date: 3 September 2007
embargo: 00.01hrs Tuesday 4 September 2007
TUC study reveals systematic exploitation of migrant workers
Thousands of Polish and Lithuanian workers are being exploited at work in the UK, reveals a new report commissioned by the TUC and published today (Tuesday).
Since 2004 when 10 new states joined the EU, more than 475,000 Polish and Lithuanian workers have come to work in the UK. This study by Compas, a research unit based at Oxford University, shows that most had found insecure and poorly paid employment, with more than half of those surveyed encountering problems at work.
A quarter of the workers in the study reported having no written contract (a figure which rose to nearly a third amongst agency workers) and over a quarter had faced problems with payment - including not being paid for hours worked, discrepancies between pay and payslips, unauthorised deductions and errors in pay calculation. Ten times as many migrants as indigenous workers were paid less than the minimum wage.
The study also uncovers that migration has re-introduced the 'tied cottage' - where employers provide accommodation (at a cost) and use it to increase their control over migrant workers. Nearly a third of the workers in the report were living in accommodation provided by their employer, and as a result described excessive hours (due to their employment being linked to where they lived) and poor living conditions.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'T his study reveals systematic abuse of migrant workers which is tantamount to modern day slavery. Too many unscrupulous bosses are getting rich by exploiting migrant workers and the full force of the law should be used against those profiting from such appalling ill treatment.
'Everyone should be treated fairly and with dignity and respect at work, wherever they come from. Unions are working hard to recruit migrant workers to protect them from rogue employers who seek to deny their workers a fair day's work for a fair day's pay.
'It's clear migrant workers need help to secure their rights. By working with advice agencies and other similar organisations, unions can help ensure that migrant workers get the support and protection they are entitled to.'
To tie in with the Compass research published today, the TUC is also publishing 'Living and working in the UK: Your rights', a guide written with the Citizens Advice service, with migrants from Eastern Europe in mind. Half the guide gives useful advice and tips for new arrivals on living in the UK, the remainder concentrates on issues that might cause problems at work.
There are sections on housing, council tax, TV licences, energy suppliers, as well as advice on how to access healthcare, open a bank account and find a suitable school. The work part of the guide covers national insurance and tax, the minimum wage, holidays, agency workers, and health and safety. The final pages contain a useful list of contacts that should prove invaluable to new arrivals from the A8.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- A copy of 'New EU Members? Migrant Workers' Challenges and Opportunities to Trade Unions: A Polish and Lithuanian Case Study' is available at http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/migrantchallenges.pdf
- 'Living and working in the UK: Your rights' can be found at http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras/workingintheuk.pdf
The guide is currently only available in English, but a Polish language version should be available soon.
- The TUC has set up a Commission on Vulnerable Employment to investigate the extent of workplace exploitation in the UK. For more information please visit www.vulnerableworkers.org.uk
- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
- Register for the TUC's press extranet : a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet
Contacts:
Media enquiries: Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337; M: 07900 910624;
E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248; M: 07778 158175; E: media@tuc.org.uk
Press release (700 words) issued 4 Sep 2007
