Major UK construction projects will grind to a halt unless the Government's immigration Bill allows British businesses to recruit EU workers, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB)

In response to the Queen's Speech, the FMB warned if firms cannot access sufficient levels of European workers, the Government's housing and infrastructure plans "will be no more than a pipe dream".

Chief Executive Brian Berry said: "As suspected, we now know that the Bill will end the free movement of people but that begs the question: what will replace it?

"The Government has not set out what our post-Brexit immigration system will look like but it is crucial that key strategic industries, such as construction, are able to draw upon sufficient numbers of EU workers.

-- Advertisement --

"EU tradespeople have come to play a crucial part in plugging the industry's chronic skills shortages and if the ability to employ non-UK workers is curtailed, the Government's housing and infrastructure plans will be no more than a pipe dream."

Mr Berry added the industry is already seeing a fall in immigration from countries that typically supply the construction sector, with statistics from the Oxford University's Migration Observatory showing a 35% decline in the number of national insurance numbers being issued to nationals from the 'EU8' countries (countries which joined the EU in 2003).

"A lack of certainty over what rights EU citizens will have in the country post-Brexit will undoubtedly be a factor behind this decline," he continued.

"Given the ongoing need to recruit from abroad, we need a clear message from the Government that non-UK skilled workers are welcome now, and will be welcome come what may."

(LM)