Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Amber Rudd said she intends to "prevent migrants taking jobs [that] British people can do."
How? By making it a legal obligation for UK companies to reveal how many foreign workers they employ. This could leave them exposed to a public relations fallout and pressure, if there is a public perception that certain companies are not doing enough to fill British jobs with British workers.
More praise for Amber Rudd's foreign workers list plan… #CPC16 pic.twitter.com/EjmvW6fKit
— Kevin Schofield (@PolhomeEditor) October 5, 2016
Many leading UK business leaders have reacted with alarm, arguing that the UK remaining open to international skills and talent is vital for the UK economy to prosper.
Pity the poor person that's counting all the foreign workers to construct "the list" in our #NHS right now! #AmberRudd #foreignworkers
— Caroline Santos (@Casumptious) 5 October 2016
Carolyn Fairbairn, the director-general of the Confederation of British Industryh (CBI), which represents over 190,000 businesses, warned that the proposals risked sending the wrong message to potential investors and UK business partners, already cautious due to the uncertainties surrounding the UK's upcoming exit from the EU.
"This idea that it is going to be a shameful thing to have people from overseas working in our companies, I think is absolutely the wrong thing: we're not that kind of country," Ms. Fairbairn said.
"This approach that appears to be around shaming companies for doing that is one that our members are very, very concerned about.
"We have a real concern that the measures that Amber Rudd put out yesterday for consultation will be damaging for business, just at a time when we are trying to be confident about our ability to attract investment and to attract talented people to our country," she added.
However, public perceptions can be fickle, and influential.
The upheaval from this year's Brexit referendum has lifted the lid on what is an unpalatable truth for many: that millions of Brits are not open to immigration.
It's a fact that Ms. Rudd will be only too aware of.
If you think the country is becoming increasingly Racist you do not pander to it you educate it @theresa_may @AmberRudd_MP #CPC16 #AmberRudd
— David of York (@Davecarr86) 5 October 2016
In her first party conference speech as Home Secretary, she called it "disgraceful" that people cannot talk about immigration without being accused of being bigoted, adding:
"Don't call me a racist!"
However, her opposition counterpart did exactly that.
Andy Burnham, Labour's Shadow Home Secretary, described Rudd's policy as "xenophobic."
"The tone of the Conservative conference has become increasingly xenophobic. Theresa May has presided over the return of the Nasty Party. Whether it's doctors, migrants or Europe, the Tories are blaming anyone but themselves for their failure," Mr. Burham said.
#AmberRudd, you have no control over who I choose to employ, and won't. Ever. I will employ the best candidates, regardless of nationality.
— Spencer Pritchard (@SpenPritchard) 5 October 2016
However, on Wednesday, despite the backlash, Ms. Rudd remained unswayed.
She said UK companies are "getting away" with not training enough British workers. She also proposed that the existing resident labor test, which requires companies to advertise vacancies in the UK for 28 days before looking outside the EU, should be toughened up.
Ms. Rudd insisted that her plans would see her department "flush out" firms abusing existing rules and "nudge them into better behavior."
"There is still one in ten 18-24 year olds in the UK who are unemployed," Ms. Rudd added.
I want businesses to think first about locally training people where possible… and work with us to deliver what we need to have which is a more skilled local labour force."
