Big business ‘hooked’ on using cheap foreign workers after figues reveal huge number in blue-collar jobs

BIG business was last night urged to wean itself off cheap foreign labour as figures revealed huge numbers of migrants in blue-collar jobs.

Nearly 250,000 Eastern Europeans are employed in manufacturing — ten per cent of the sector’s total.

And more than half a million EU nationals work in the wholesale and retail trade, including 66,000 Romanians and Bulgarians.

The Office for National Statistics said overall more than 2.2million EU nationals aged 16 to 64 work in Britain.

But 388,000 — 14 per cent — do not have a job.

In total, foreign nationals account for 11.2 per cent of the UK workforce.

Alp Mehmet, of Migration Watch, said: “Business must focus on the domestic work- force and wean itself off the East European option.

“Employers should turn to overseas workers only when they face skills or labour shortages.”

Poles, Romanians and Bulgarians typically “work more hours and earn lower wages”, the ONS said.

Brits earn an average £11.30 an hour while Romanians and Bulgarians in the UK earn £8.33.