The North West Migrant Workers' Institute
The North West Migrant Workers' Institute
Supporting Employers
Supporting Migrant Workers
Supporting the Region's Economy and Communities
Immigration Minister, Tony McNulty, has recognised that the Institute's launch, on 16 December, 'is a valuable step forward in protecting the rights of migrant workers and assisting in their integration into wider society.'
The Institute is being established as a charitable body with Limited Liability status, and its aims are.....
- to collate and promote 'best practice' in the employment of migrant workers - including specific work on health and safety, fair conditions of employment, the promotion of positive recruitment practices, support for flexible ESOL courses, decent partnerships with employment agencies, etc;
- to provide a region-wide reference point for support and services available to migrant workers and their communities;
- to identify specific training needs amongst migrant workers, whilst also helping to identify opportunities to optimise skills already available within migrant worker communities and, at the same time, using our experiences to identify upskilling opportunities more generally within the North West economy;
- to deliver information and education on these themes to employers, migrant workers and their communities, existing workforces, the general public and any other relevant agencies; and
- to promote best practice amongst policy makers in relation to legislation affecting migrant workers.
The Institute's supporters include the North West Development Agency; North West TUC; MPs and Members of the European Parliament; NW Regional Assembly (Economic/Social Partners); ACAS; City College Manchester; First Bus; Arriva; Manchester Refugee Support Network; the Co-operative Group; Logistics College North West; Sustainability North West; the Manufacturing Institute; the Learning and Skills Council; North West Employment Relations Forum; and Jobcentre Plus.
The Institute believes that Labour Migration, especially in the European Union, may offer many benefits to the UK economy. 80,000 authorised migrant workers have come to the North West over the past three years alone, and basic research shows that, on average, migrant workers contribute 20% more to the economy in Taxes and National Insurance than they use in benefits and public services.
UK Governments have responded positively to employers seeking an increase in 'legal migration' to Britain to meet rising labour shortages as unemployment levels continued to fall. However, in view of the positive actions taken by successive UK Governments to shape immigration policies so that they meet these employer needs, the Institute is particularly critical about the lack of a legislative 'safety net' to protect the workers involved - and the trade unions involved have already helped to achieve improvements in the EU Services Directive.
In addition, the Institute recognises the need to ensure that migrant workers are used to solve genuine 'labour shortages' whilst we also tackle problems of existing unemployment in the economy - and has recently helped to support a positive action initiative to deliver driver training to the BEM community in South Liverpool.
In particular, the Institute will work with employers to develop best practice in the employment of migrant workers - and there are already excellent examples in which companies have received positive support by referrals to the many agencies and organisations providing specialist services on health and safety, language facilities and training, for example,
Finally, the Institute will help....
- to convince our existing workforce, and the public generally, that the best way to protect collective interests is by specifically protecting migrant workers; and
- to promote the work of existing migrant workers' forums and other agencies already tackling these problems across the North West by providing regional co-ordination of services to support them.
If you are interested in joining the Institute's Advisory Committee of key stakeholders and partners, or you want more information about the facilities which the Institute can provide, please contact....
Dave McCall, NWMWI Chairperson (dmccall@tgwu.org.uk)
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