Prime minister Gordon Brown’s plans to create 500,000 new jobs for British workers may be illegal

Gordon Brown’s plans to create 500,000 new jobs for British workers may be illegal, according to a parliamentary report published today.

A study commissioned by the Conservative Party, and conducted by the impartial House of Commons library, reiterated that workers from EU member countries must “enjoy equal treatment” when applying for jobs in Britain, under EU law.

It said: “Both direct and indirect discrimination against migrant workers from the EU is prohibited.

“Indirect discrimination focuses on the effect of a measure and whether it would have a greater impact or impose a greater burden on nationals of other member states. Such measures would be unlawful, unless “objectively justified”.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

Email(Required)

OptOut

From time to time, we will send you emails about selected products, events and services from Personnel Today and OHW+ - but you can choose to opt-out at any time. If you do not wish to receive these emails, please tick this box.

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

The prime minister revealed his plan to enable more jobs for British workers at the TUC Congress last September, to bring the UK closer to full employment than ever before.

Meanwhile, shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling told national newspapers, including the Daily Mail: “This is the first independent assessment we have had and it found that all the things that Gordon Brown is promising to do are illegal.”