130 Britons losing out to foreign workers daily

London: Foreign employees are taking 130 jobs a day in the UK which have not been advertised to British workers, figures show.

The number of foreign workers taking advantage of "intra-company transfers" has increased by almost half in four years. The system allows international companies to transfer staff to Britain for supposedly limited periods of time. They do not have to advertise the affected post in Britain first, and staff can stay for up to three years, with a possible extension of two years.

Critics said on Sunday that the system meant companies had no incentive to hire and train British workers to fill the roles. The figures are likely to stoke the row over foreign labour as the recession deepens, and come ahead of more damaging immigration statistics to be published today. The arrangement also appears to contradict the recommendations of Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, who has said that skilled jobs should not be given to immigrants before they are advertised to British workers.

Sir Andrew Green, the chairman of MigrationWatch, an independent group, said: "This scheme is wide open to abuse and, in any case, is bound to reduce opportunities for British workers. It is absurd for the government to describe this points-based scheme as 'tough'."

Figures released to MPs showed 48,010 applications for intra-company transfers were approved in 2008, up 47 per cent on the 32,770 approved in 2004 and the equivalent of 131 foreign workers arriving every day.