Equality of Opportunity Committee

Inquiry into Migrant Workers

Response from Oxfam Cymru (Uk Poverty)

Oxfam works to overcome poverty all over the world. Millions of people in the UK don't have enough money to live on. Oxfam believes that in a rich country this is completely unacceptable. That’s why we work in the UK.

Oxfam works to overcome poverty in the UK in three ways. We develop projects with people living in poverty to improve their lives and show how things can change. We raise public awareness of poverty to create pressure for change. And we work with policymakers to tackle the causes of poverty.

In 2006 we undertook a small piece of research to scope some of the issues affecting migrant workers living in the Cardiff and Newport area’s of Wales. The research revealed a mixed pattern of experiences by migrant workers in Wales including some appalling stories about the number of hours some migrants work, the level of pay they receive and the experiences of inequality. The existence of exploitative agencies or intermediaries also contribute to poor employment and living conditions for significant number of migrant workers. Many others find that their skills and qualifications are not recognised or are undervalued and that job opportunities do not live up to their expectations.

Experiences of migrant workers and their families

Finding work

A number of respondents had not pre-arranged work . It was that it was difficult to find work if there is no access to UK references and that it was difficult to get certificates recognised. A number of workers had found work through mostly UK-based agencies. One had come to Wales and then gone door-to-door to find work. Most of the workers reported that the work they are doing does not match their skills set. One woman had found work through Tesco Europe, which recruits Polish people directly to work in Wales.

Pay and employment

Absence of health and safety training or health and safety training that did not meet the worker’s needs and no induction into the work
No contracts and one received their contract late
Not being paid overtime
Most of the interviewees were employed through agencies and complained about the instability in wages
One couple complained about the difficulties in getting paid monthly but had to pay rent weekly
Job Centre was found to be unhelpful
Job experience acquired in the country of origin was not considered when when searching for work in the UK

Accommodation

Accommodation was identified as a key issue, with interviewees complaining that it was noisy, inappropriate, expensive, overcrowded . A family with five children were housed in temporary accommodation and felt it was inappropriate due to drunk people living in the same building.

No Recourse to Public Funds

A number of issues arose relating to the question of no recourse to public funds e.g.

Agencies not providing adequate work and unable to access alternative financial support.
Lack of appropriate childcare available, therefore unable to work. One interviewee is taking a company to court for unfair dismissal. He was dismissed for approximately one month but he had no financial support and inevitably slipped back into debt.
Issues regarding pregnancy and parental entitlements.
Issues regarding lack of clarity regarding legal status in the UK.

Workers registration scheme

Bureaucracy of the system, particularly if an employer had not properly completed the Workers Registration Scheme documents or they had not notified the Home Office when they changed jobs.

Miscellaneous issues

Employment related

Negative feelings about work leading to depression
Dismissal without notice
Long working hours
Shift work that prevents attendance at English class
Sustained periods with no work (usually a few months)
Illness caused by products in place of work
Tied accommodation and transport
Difficulty accessing courses / employers don’t allow time to go on a course
Feeling that knowledge of right are needed before they can be

General

First few months tend to be difficult because of the lack of English language skills and an understanding of the system.
Advice Bureau’s can be unhelpful.
Racism
General lack of support

Examples of good practice

Projects and initiatives that promote social/ community cohesion

Gill Saunders started FAN groups in 2003 as a result of her experience of teaching English as a second language with the parade’s ESOL service in Grangetown.

FAN is the Friends and Neighbours Group. It is a weekly group enabling people to meet in friendship. They want to meet, listen and be friendly with others whatever their religion or ethnic background.

They want to talk about their daily lives. People from every country, of all religions or those who have no religion are welcome. Fan groups give opportunities for local British people to meet those who have come to live here from other countries. Please come if you would like to.

Suggestions

This section prioritises the key issues that have been identified as challenges for migrant workers in Wales. These priorities have been informed by both the research undertaken by Oxfam Cymru and through networking with key players within the migrant workers sector.

Language and communication

Inability to communicate results in isolation
Limited access to services, entitlements and rights
Employers target non English speakers for recruitment as they are easy to exploit

ESOL

ESOL supply is inadequate and does not meet needs
Classes are during working hours
/unable to achieve formal qualifications due to structure
Difficult to access courses as colleges recruit annually
ESOL requires adequate funding

Access to services & poor practice

Due to lack of language, communication skills and confidence
Lack of knowledge of British systems and services
Workers may not possess all relevant documentation
Poor supply of housing/low cost housing, increased homelessness
Service provider/frontline staff apathy, lack of knowledge, lack of socio-cultural awareness, prejudice, racism,
Poorly funded services
Existing voluntary groups do not have the capacity and expertise to deal with newly established communities
Complexity and confusion of benefit entitlements (from both parties)
No recourse to public funds

Employment

Employment agencies recruit directly from countries with poor recruitment methods. – promise permenant contract but only providing zero contracts.
Workers who do not have adequate English cannot understand their contracts
Underpayment: Pay at National Minimum Wage or below, Overtime not always paid
Long hours
No employmnt benefits (sick pay, maternity pay, holidays)
Tied accommodation, charged above the market rate, repossessed if employment ceases
Transport cost wage deducations
Poor training and development
Health and safety risks
Unfair dismissal
Racism and discrimination
Gangmaster recruitment: illegal, high fees
Very few employees take action against employers (worker plans to return home after earning and saving, doesn’t know how, often prepared to adjust to conditions).

Statistics

Poorly collected statistics by the Border and Immigration Agency and Local Authorities
Statistics are not effectively disaggregated

Racism, prejudice and stereotypes isolation

Racial attacks, which are unreported due to lack of knowledge of rights and support mechanisms
Negative perception of police among migrant worker community due to experience in their country of origin

Lack of social networks and support structures (intergenerational effect)