01.07.11
Duncan Smith appeals to business on school-leavers and immigration
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith (above) has appealed to UK businesses to employ young British people instead of overseas workers.
In a speech in Madrid, he will say of school leavers: “We need businesses to give them a chance.”
In extracts released in advance, it is revealed that he will say: “We have to ensure that our immigration system works in the interests of Britain, enabling us to make a realistic promise to our young school-leavers. It is part of our contract with the British people.”
He will say that the Government is taking action to ‘make work pay’, adding: “But we also need an immigration system that gives the unemployed a level playing field.
“If we do not get this right, then we risk leaving more British citizens out of work, and the most vulnerable group, who will be the most affected, are young people.
“Government cannot do it all. As we work hard to break welfare dependency and get young people ready for the labour market, we need businesses to give them a chance and not just fall back on labour from abroad.
“If Government and business pull together on this, I believe we can finally start to give our young people a chance. A chance to experience the benefits of work that so many of the rest of us take for granted. A chance to become productive members of our society. And a chance of a better future.”
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