Refugees are favoured by some firms for their strong work ethic
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Firms benefit from employing refugees but are too afraid to talk about it because they fear adverse publicity, a report has indicated.
The Employability Forum said catering, tourism and construction had all seen positive results from the skills and work ethic of refugees.
Of 10 employers who had recruited refugees, half did not want their names publicised.
Businesses "should not be intimidated by tabloid headlines", it warned.
Negative publicity
Fear of negative publicity was a "significant barrier" to employers considering hiring refugees, said Richard Pearson, director of the Institute for Employment Studies, which helped compile the report.
And companies' unwillingness to talk about the plus side of having refugees in their workforce is hampering efforts to tackle barriers such as prejudice facing refugee jobseekers, the forum warns.
Patrick Wintour, the forum's director, said: "We need a serious debate about the realities of the British economy and labour market, which in significant sectors depends on workers from abroad, without fear of companies and
individuals being stigmatised for it."
The 10 employers included a hotel chain, a construction company, a food manufacturer and a bus company, as well as the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.
In most cases they employed refugees because of labour shortages and a commitment to promote a diverse workforce, but only a few companies specifically
targeted refugees.
Employers praised the refugees' commitment, strong work ethic and productivity, the report said.
It quoted a confectionery manufacturer who said: "If that group of workers had not been there, would we have been able to maintain the calibre of staff? Probably not."
The Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said the payback far outweighed the extra costs.
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We need a serious debate about the realities of the British economy and labour market,
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