Migrant Workers in Greater Manchester
Published in Bottomline, Summer 2006
On the 5th June 2006 we organised a meeting, to which we invited agencies from around Greater Manchester, to discuss the situation of migrant workers, and what we might be able to do to improve the situation. We took our definition of ‘migrant workers’ to include all those workers newly arrived from the European Union expansion of 2004, as well as those workers on work permits or programmes, those with indefinite right to remain, and those workers who are subject to some form of immigration control and who are not documented.
Representatives from advice and anti-poverty agencies, together with representatives from the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), met to share their knowledge of the problems that they have come across. The situation is mixed. Whilst there are undoubted benefits of the labour and skills that are being brought to the UK, there is also clear evidence of workers being exploited and denied their basic employment rights. The current hostile climate and the way in which many migrant workers are referred to as ‘illegal’ and the myths that surround migrant workers has to be challenged to protect some of the most vulnerable workers in the labour market.
At the meeting it was agreed that we need to build a more detailed picture of what’s happening in Greater Manchester and the North West in order to identify which employers and which companies are known to be denying basic employment rights to ensure that information about their rights is targeted and that those workers know where to go for help. In addition there needs to be a co-ordinated response from advice agencies and trade unions to share information about what support they can provide and to make the links with other agencies including housing benefit, mental health, housing, etc. When gaps in provision are identified there needs to be joint effort to address this. So far, it is recognised that access to language support is sporadic although there are some limited plans in place to meet this, advisers have limited experience in this area and particularly in relation to registration and the employment agencies who are bringing workers in from EU countries, and where to go for further help is vital. Having identified the issues that need to be addressed there will also be evidence to lobby for improvements.
It was agreed to set up a practitioners advice group (possible e-group) to collate the evidence of advisers, and identify the types of issues coming up. It was also agreed to contribute towards the development of a directory of support services which is being undertaken by the newly formed North West Migrant Workers Institute. For further information about the Institute contact Dave McCall at the TGWU on 0161 848 0909.
Another meeting of the group will be held on 4th September. If you want further information or would like to get involved please contact Denise McDowell at Greater Manchester Pay and Employment Rights Advice Service.
There are also a number of websites that could be useful to advisers or more generally. These include:
www.homelesslink.org.uk which has a good section on A8 Nationals.
www.adviceguide.org.uk the CAB website with advice about grievance, dismissal and disciplinary in Polish, Lithuanian and Portuguese,
www.worksmart.org.uk the TUC website which lists the rights of migrant workers in a number of European languages. The TGWU also have a ‘migrant workers legal helpline’ 0800 028 2133.