“We support the notion that the government should be under a 70 day deadline to provide a transition deal that prioritises jobs. That will be a year on from when Article 50 was triggered and it is time that we see sufficient progress for the sake of employers and workers in this country.
“Businesses have been kept waiting too long for the government to provide clarity and our data shows that employer confidence in the economy is really suffering because of this, which is starting to impact hiring plans. Recruiters tell us that their clients are already moving jobs abroad and this will increase if they don’t feel reassured. Large businesses do workforce planning at least a year ahead and it’s not feasible to think they will hold off on decision-making any longer.
“It’s also vital that EU workers in the UK are told what practical actions they have to take to get their right to work here confirmed. It is not clear right now and they will be feeling frustrated. Many sectors across the economy, from healthcare to warehousing, rely heavily on EU workers and must be able to access the people they need – otherwise employers could end up moving to other countries, reducing their services or even shutting down.”
