Infozone: the briefing – 24/09/10

Cable says caps damage UK

Business Secretary Vince Cable has warned that caps on immigration are costing the UK thousands of jobs. A restriction introduced by the coalition Government on the number of non-EU workers allowed to enter Britain has meant that many companies have not been able to recruit the staff they need. Cable said that the caps were forcing companies to relocate overseas and that "a lot of damage is being done to British industry."

"I am not known as the best friend of investment bankers, but they are quite an important source of economic activity," he said.

Staff think they're under-used

Half of employees feel that their skills are under-used and 10% have taken up new positions that do not make the most of their skills as a result of the recession, according to research by recruitment and HR services company Randstad. However, the report also found that 23% of staff had up-skilled during the past 18 months as many organisations had put a freeze on new hires. In addition, the employers surveyed had a mismatched view of what issues were most important to their staff. Workers ranked the most important factors in their choice of employer as the level of remuneration, training and development, a good career path and flexible working conditions.

Coalition divided?

A survey published this week has highlighted differences of opinion among members of the coalition Government on the topic of workers' rights. The survey, published by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), found that some 87% of Conservative MPs surveyed felt the balance of employment law had shifted too far in favour of employees. However, of Lib Dem MPs polled, 71% said they felt the opposite was true.