PUBLISHED 30 AUGUST 2008
A STARK warning has been issued that major social problems are being stored up for the future unless migrant exploitation is tackled.
While the large influx of migrants as a cheap labour source has been vital for many local businesses, their quality of life is suffering.
That is the view of Emelio Nunes, a Portuguese migrant worker who is contract manager for a recruitment company bringing migrants to north Northumberland and Berwickshire.
"I know for a fact that if it was not for the eastern European migrants a lot of farms around here would have collapsed and food producers been put out of business," he revealed.
"As a recruitment manager I know how difficult it was for them to get local cheap labour but that all changed when the eastern European market opened up."
Unfortunately the sudden influx of migrants into a predominantly rural community created its own problems.
"There are 10 or 20 migrants in some houses because they can't afford anything else but there are a lot of closed eyes to the problem at the moment," explained Emilio.
Although some younger migrants come to these shores on a short term basis to pick up comparatively rich pickings, many others have settled here and are trying to make the most of a new lifestyle.
"A lot of the eastern Europeans in particular tend to bring their children here very young," said Emilio. "Very often they live in just one room, they go to work and leave the children by themselves.
"They are just trying to make money to improve their lifestyle but it's exactly the same pattern as 30 years ago when migrants first started coming to the UK in large numbers.
"They do a 40 hour week on the minimum wage which gives them £180 a week to live on but they have to pay £60-£70 for accommodation and that doesn't leave much else for food, drink and bills."
Emilio believes this lack of money is the main reason for the numerous incidents of migrant workers caught driving cars without insurance and road tax in recent months.
"It is a growing problem and it will get worse and worse," he admitted. "It's not a nice picture but it's the truth and nothing can stop it until we get to the core of the problem."
He sees migrants registering with the Home Office as the first step. This entitles them to employment rights such as the minimum wage and protects against unfair dismissal.
A fact often overlooked by more unscrupulous employers is that they are obliged to register migrant workers with the Home Office within 30 days otherwise they are committing a criminal offence.
"Unfortunately there will always be people willing to take advantage so it's important employees take it in their own hands and make sure they are protected as well as they can be," advised Emelio.
Migrant worker registration forms can be picked up from the Job Centre or downloaded from the Home Office website.
