The lower house committee drafting legislation on the politically sensitive topic instead proposed giving local people hiring preference as a way to ease pressure on domestic job markets without infringing too much on EU free movement rules. Negotiations that neutral Switzerland conducts with the EU to resolve the matter will be scrutinised for potential hints of what kind of deal Britain might expect following its June vote to leave the bloc. Free movement of people is a cornerstone of EU policy. Britain voted in June to leave the EU, in large part to stop unlimited immigration of EU citizens that critics say has pressured job markets, social services and schools. The European Commission, which faces years of similar negotiations on migration rules with Britain, has shown little inclination to accommodate Switzerland or budge from insistence the Swiss respect free movement rules or lose trade benefits.

Source: Dhaka Tribune September 02, 2016 20:03 UTC