BREXIT WARNING…Quinn’s Kevin Lunney
THE largest employer in Fermanagh has said “tariffs in any form” and any restrictions on border controls could have place a “heavy burden” on local employers.
Last week it was suggested the UK could place a levy on companies employing EU workers following Brexit. Quinn Industrial Holdings Limited (QIHL) employ hundreds of locals on both sides of the border in Fermanagh and Cavan, have said this would be a step backwards for everyone.
Speaking to the Hearld, COO of QIHL, Kevin Lunney said: “In common with most aspects of a hard Brexit a workers levy, even one that impacts a minority of workers, would be a retrograde step for employees and employers on both sides of the border by adding cost, red tape and uncertainty.
“Additional border controls, bureaucracy or tariffs in any form, place an increasingly heavy burden on local employers and create an uneven playing filed with competitors from other jurisdictions.”
He added: “We have implemented measures within our control that we feel are necessary to protect our business from the effects of Brexit, but the lack of clarity and the constant shifting policy sands make planning and investment decisions more difficult.”
Mr Lunney concluded: “While employees no doubt have concerns given the emerging situation they also appreciate that the business is vibrant and strong and has successfully contended with similar issues in the past given its border location.
“One advantage that this business has is that it has operations on both sides of the border and so in the medium term it has some flexibility to react to the emerging situation and can take the necessary commercial decisions on where to base its primary operations while seeking to accommodate workers in the best way possible.”
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