Young workers could lose right to benefits

Thousands of young British workers may be prevented from receiving tax credits and housing benefits for four years as part of the Tory government plans to tighten the rules for EU migrants.

According to the British media, British workers under the age of 22 could lose the right to benefits as part of a four-year residency test for migrants.

It will be extended to all UK benefit applicants from the age of 18 as applying it to migrants alone would breach EU laws.

The plan is an important part of the British government’s negotiations over London’s EU membership.

Labour Party has already rejected the plan, warning that axing tax credits and housing benefits for the young people is unacceptable.

A London-based political commentator believes the plan is part of attempts to stave migrants off the UK.

“It is an attempt to make it harder for migrants coming to Britain to claim those benefits,” Zayd al-Isa told Press TV’s UK Desk on Tuesday.

“I think it is part of a general drive making harder to claim benefits considering that there are austerity plans. They are feeding the discontent that a lot of benefit money is being abused migrants,” he reiterated.

UK government has already been under fire from rights groups for doing too little to protect the rights of migrants.

Back in December, the UN’s special rapporteur for migrants’ rights censured the British government immigration policies, saying they have endangered the lives of migrants.

François Crépeau slammed the UK Home Office for sending only one official to take part in a European search and rescue mission aimed at deterring migrant deaths in the Mediterranean Sea.

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