UK businesses would be required to publish details about their foreign recruits under new Government plans to boost the British workforce.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd has outlined parts of her immigration plan at the Conservative party conference which include measures pressuring businesses to “prevent migrants taking jobs British people can do”.

Under new rules, companies would have to “be clear about the proportion of their workforce which is international,” she said.

Those recruiting from abroad would face controls to ensure people brought in are filling gaps in the labour market and “not taking jobs British people could do,” she added.

Companies could be required to publish what proportion of their workforce comes from overseas.

At present, businesses looking for skilled workers outside the EU must advertise a job for 28 days.

Rudd wants to reduce net migration to below 100,000 a year from the current level of 327,000.

In response, Seamus Nevin, head of employment and skills policy at the Institute of Directors, told the Independent newspaper: “It is clear that immigration will continue to be a major bone of contention between companies and this Government.

"Businesses know that the EU referendum result means change to free movement of workers from the EU, but people were not voting to make the economy weaker. The evidence is clear that migrants are a benefit to the economy.” 

He added: “The UK has a record level of employment, so immigration is not hurting jobs.”