HR Industry News

Ken Loach condemns treatment of migrant workers

— 6 September 2007 —

With his latest film “It’s A Free World” in line for the Golden Lion prize for best picture at the Venice film festival, Ken Loach has condemned the treatment of immigrant workers in the UK.

“It’s at the heart of the economic system”, said Loach. “What’s interesting is the hypocrisy with which it’s treated. On the one hand, people say the economy couldn’t survive without the immigrant workforce. On the other, the right wing is saying get these people out of our country. It’s hypocrisy.”

“It’s A Free World” is about a woman who sets up a recruitment agency placing immigrants in low-paid jobs with poor working conditions.

Loach’s stance is backed up by recent research published by the Centre of Migration, Policy and Society at Oxford University, who claim that over half of immigrant workers in the UK have experienced problems.

The research also claims that nearly a quarter of them are working without a written contract, a figure that rises to a third among agency workers. Over a quarter had experienced problems receiving their wages, and many were paid below the national minimum wage.

Many of those experiencing problems were living in accommodation provided by their employers, an arrangement known as 'tied cottage'. Only 3% had joined a union, but over half of those surveyed claimed that they would be interested in membership.

Ceridian's Paul Avis comments, “The benefits of having a diverse workforce have been well recorded, but immigrant workers bring a whole new dimension of tension and challenges than those faced by indigenous black/ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and female workers. The Commission for Equality and Human Rights has a lot to do to get the message across: with an ageing population and low birth rates, migrant workers will be the back bone of UK PLC in the future.

"Whilst at the start of a journey of painful period of acceptance, it is inevitable that they too will, and should, enjoy what are ultimately statutory minimums. If the message does not get across then enforcement and high profile court cases may scare some employers into compliance with the law.”

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