The FDF has welcomed Theresa May’s pledge to allow EU nationals to stay in the UK after Brexit, but argued the reassurance should have come much earlier.
Speaking at a European Council summit in Brussels yesterday, the prime minister said she wanted to offer “certainty” to the estimated three million EU workers in the UK in return for a similar assurance for Brits living in European countries.
Under the government proposals, workers who have been in the UK for five years or more will be given the chance to take up “settled status” with rights to stay and access to services.
The PM, who is due to outline more details of the plans on Monday, has previously faced accusations from opponents of using EU workers as “bargaining chips”.
FDF director general Ian Wright said the proposals followed a year of crippling uncertainty for firms relying heavily on EU workers.
“FDF welcomes the prime minister’s proposals regarding the rights of EU citizens to stay once we have left the EU,” he said.
“FDF was the first trade association to call for the right to remain following last year’s referendum result and have consistently made the case to ministers and officials, in the UK and EU. We are therefore pleased that government has listened to our members on such a crucial issue.
“We employ 117,000 EU workers within the food and drink sector and they play a vital role in guaranteeing the success of the £110bn ‘farm to fork’ food chain. They are hugely valued, but in the past 12 months have lived under a cloud of uncertainty. It is time to allay their fears.
“We now look forward to further details from the government on Monday and urge negotiators on both sides to resolve this matter swiftly.”
The BRC also welcomed the proposals but said it would issue a formal response once the policy document was published next week.
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