Working together to win fairness for migrant workers

Despite the huge benefits that migrant workers bring to the economy, many find that the reality of working in the UK is one of exploitation, dangerous working conditions and jobs well below their skill levels, the TUC will say today.

In a speech to a TUC conference in London, organised to encourage unions and agencies to work together to help migrant workers get fairer treatment at work and in their everyday lives, TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances OíGrady will say:

Migrant workers make a massive contribution to our economy, public services and national life. Some have a positive experience of working in Britain, but the day-to-day reality many face is exploitation, dangerous working conditions, and employment far below their skill level. These problems are often made worse by a lack of English, little awareness of basic rights, and public prejudice.

The migrant worker horror stories are sadly all too familiar, but that doesnít make them any less shocking. Like the two Filipino women being paid 75 for an 80-hour week at a Norfolk care home. The Portuguese man and his pregnant wife working on a farm in Lancashire, sharing a house with 17 others, and left with just 6 a week to live on after deductions. This is not some Dickensian nightmare - this is happening here and now, in Britain, in 2006.

Our challenge is to fight these terrible injustices whenever and wherever they occur and to build support for migrant workers both in our workplaces and in our communities.

The only way to prevent employers from using migrant labour to undercut terms and conditions, and to prevent exploitation, is through stronger rights, better enforcement of the law, and trade union organisation. Whether they are from Warrington or Warsaw, Burnley or Bucharest, Lancaster or Lagos, all workers should be treated with respect, treated equally and paid a decent, living wage. That way, everybody benefits.

The best protection migrant workers can have is the protection of a trade union. But with fewer than a quarter of migrant workers currently belonging to a trade union, itís clear we must step up our efforts.

Across the UK, many unions are working really hard to reach out to migrant workers, but unions canít win a better deal for migrant workers on their own. We must build closer alliances with the many organisations who are concerned with the welfare of migrant workers and immigrants generally. Unions, NGOs, citizensí advice bureaux, charities, welfare organisations and community groups must work in partnership towards a common goal - fairness for migrant workers.

One way of tackling exploitation of migrant workers would be for the UK Government to introduce a social agreement on migration between ministers, employers and the unions, just as the Irish Government has recently done. This has at its heart support for an open labour market, but is accompanied by stronger enforcement of employment rights and tougher penalties for rogue bosses who exploit vulnerable workers.