Firms To Be Fined For Hiring Immigrants Instead Of Brits

Firms which rely on cheap workers from abroad face being hit with a new tax under plans to encourage bosses to hire young Brits.

Home Secretary Theresa May is to consult on a new visa levy which would be used to fund apprenticeships for young people from Britain and the rest of the EU.

The plan emerged as the Queen's Speech set out plans for a fresh crackdown on immigration, designed to stamp out exploitation of illegal workers.

The government said: 'A consultation will be carried out on funding apprenticeship schemes for British and EU workers by implementing a new visa levy on businesses that use foreign labour.'

Home Secretary Theresa May will also introduce an offence of "illegal working" which will give authorities powers to seize wages from illegal migrants.

Foreign criminals will also be tagged to prevent them going missing when they are released.

The measure, which will see offenders tracked by satellite when they are released on bail, is included in legislation to control immigration.

It comes after official figures revealed that the number of foreign criminals living in the community rose above 5,000 for the first time this year.

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