National Assembly for Wales

EOC(3) MW 22

Equality of Opportunity Committee

Inquiry into Migrant Workers  

Response from Voluntary Action Wales

VAC is one of the 22 County Voluntary Councils (CVC) in Wales, and is a Community Development organisation that represents the interests of over 300 community and voluntary organisations in Cardiff. VAC has a diverse membership, with over 25% of member organisations from Ethnic Minority Communities.

We have been working with an East European group who have recently formalised their organisation, and this response is based on our experience of working with that group and other more established migrant communities.

Experiences of migrant workers and their families:

  • Language is a key barrier that can hinder access to, and understanding of key service provision including health and education.
  • Opportunities for building social networks: The Central and Eastern European Association of Wales who aim to address a wide range of needs for Central Eastern European communities, including access to funding for social activities and a regular meeting space.

The impact of economic migration on local communities:

  • An increased need for ESOL provision.
  • An increased need to capacity build migrant community organisations to enable them to meet the needs of their communities and to have access to key strategic and policy making mechanisms - self-help and making their voice heard.
  • The advantages of migrant workers and their families include contribution to economic, cultural and civic life.
  • Challenges which need to be addressed include community cohesion issues - there is a need for cross-cultural understanding and acknowledge of the wealth of skills and cultural diversity migrant communities contribute to Cardiff.

Examples of good practice

  • Cardiff Race Equality First have a migrant workers development officer funded to March 2008 - specialist, dedicated support.
  • VAC have worked with Cardiff REF to capacity build the Central and Eastern European Association of Wales, including support to access funding and forward planning
  • VAC have also utilised interpretation services, but this is not sustainable without adequate funding in the medium or long term.
  • VAC encourages organisations to network - an activity many ethnic minority communities, and smaller organisations in general do not priorities.

Suggestions

  • More funding to voluntary sector and other organisations for dedicated capacity building support to support the development of migrant community organisations, and address community cohesion issues.
  • More information/Public relations about the positive contribution migrant communities make, now and historically there is to emphasise that many flourishing economies have developed on the basis of migrant labour.
  • More English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision and funding for interpretation.