With unemployment currently at 2.5million, Immigration Minister Phil Woolas was asked to block a loophole that could safeguard jobs for UK workers.
But he has ignored pleas to make sure all new posts are offered to Brits before foreigners are taken on.

Labour MP Frank Field accused the Government of a “shameful” missed opportunity.

The measures could have applied not only to the Olympics site in the Stratford area of east London, but also to the £14bn Crossrail line being built across the capital.

Mr Field challenged the Minister for assurances after the Daily Star exposed the Home Office for openly considering letting migrants work on both projects. Mr Field said: “This issue has been flashed up and if the Government is not careful, they are going to be flushed out. It’s a dangerous game Gordon Brown is playing.

“His statement about ‘British jobs for British workers’ was probably the best he’s made as Prime Minister.
“But I can’t imagine the French or Germans allowing this to happen.
“So why can’t he protect British workers in the same way?”

The snub came as Olympic chiefs issued figures showing that a quarter of the current 9,000-strong workforce on the London site is non-British.
Most of those are European Union nationals from countries including Romania and Lithuania, while 2% are Nepalese and 2% Indian.

The Olympic Delivery Authority said it is working with the UK Border Agency to make sure employees are working here legally.
The committee which advises the Government on migrants sparked fury earlier this month after it produced a report on works like the Olympics, titled: “Would the needs of large projects be sensibly met through immigration?”

But Mr Field said he feared that sub-contractors would bypass rules and turn to cheaper outsiders instead of British workers.
Original article... HERE

Immigration minister Phil Woolas ignored pleas

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