Brussels BACKS businesses that discriminate against Britons in favour of Eastern Europeans

BRUSSELS sparked fury today by backing businesses that discriminate against British workers in favour of Eastern Europeans.

European Union bureaucrats confirmed that companies can make posts open only to those who speak a specific language even if it is irrelevant to carrying out the job.

The remarks come after a Daily Express investigation found that companies are actively seeking security guards, cleaners, customer service advisors and teaching assistants fluent in languages other than English.

Agencies can advertise for work with language requirements where it is necessary for the role, but businesses are now attaching the requirement to speak a language — often Polish — to many run-of-the-mill jobs.

As an example, one advert on the Universal Jobmatch site stressed it was “essential” an experienced painter and decorator was able to converse in Polish.

Furious Brexit campaigners said they would confront Brussels over the scandal, which meant the Government could not promote "British jobs for British workers".

But, in a response to UKIP MEP Jane Collins today, the European Commission confirmed that British workers can be barred from jobs by agencies that want candidates who speak Polish or Romanian.

Examples include vacancies for a painter and decorator in the South East which required Polish fluency, an estate agent in the north of England where Romanian was 'needed' and care workers in the South West where the vacancy was advertised in Polish only.

Jane Collins

The furious MEP blasted: ”It's illegal to specify for a worker from a particular country or countries under EU rules, but as the European Commission has confirmed, it is not illegal to ask for languages which typically only people from Eastern Europe will be able to speak because they are not taught as standard in British schools.

"This means that British workers are being discriminated against for jobs in their own country, often because they don't want to work for a minimum wage in shared accommodation but have a decent family life.

"And this rule is a double-edged sword because it also stops jobs being open only to people who are fluent in English or have English as their first language which is undeniably important in jobs where absolute understanding is required such as doctors, nurses and teachers.

"In short, it's the worst of both worlds."