The term migrant worker can mean anyone who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national anyone from any country.
In Wales and the UK the term migrant worker is increasingly used to refer specifically to Eastern European citizens. This is because in 2004 Poland along with 9 other European countries joined the European Union and since this date there has been an increase in the number of people from these countries particularly Poland and Slovakia who are coming to Wales to live and work.
It is important to note however that the term migrant worker refers to a diverse population, who are from a variety of different backgrounds and nationalities and according to UK immigration law are afforded different entitlements and rights.
- The largest cohort of people born outside the UK living in Wales is those born in the Irish Republic
The Government of Wales Act 2006 does not allow for measure making power that refers to immigration. However, immigration cuts across every area of service delivery particularly education and housing and these are some of the areas that are the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government and have a particular resonance with immigration policies.
UK Government’s immigration policies and the new points based system
The enlargement of the European Union in 2004 granted particular mobility and freedom rights to eight of the new Accession countries namely; Poland, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Bulgaria and Romania also joined the EU in January 2007 but are subject to restrictions and to date the numbers of nationals of these countries applying to work in Wales are very low.
The UK alongside Sweden and Ireland chose not to impose working restrictions on Accession 8 nationals. The UK did stipulate that all workers have to register under the Workers Registration Scheme (WRS).
Migrant workers from the A8 countries are entitled to some basic benefits, such as Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Tax Credits, whilst they are working provided they are registered.
- Only after a migrant worker from the A8 countries have been working legally for at least a 12 month period, without a break of more than 30 days, can they claim social security benefits such as Jobseeker's Allowance
Information and Research
The number of economic migrants from the A8 countries in Wales is unclear and the picture is constantly changing. The two main administrative data sources of information; the Workers Registration Scheme (WRS) and the National Insurance Number applications (NINo) do not provide a fully comprehensive picture of A8 migrant workers in Wales and the numbers of migrant workers in many areas of Wales has been significantly underestimated.
- Wales accounts for a little less than 3 per cent of all applications from A8 nationals in the UK
The Welsh Assembly Government Statistics for Wales
In June 2007 the Welsh Assembly Government produced a statistical article on migrant workers in Wales focusing on A8 nationals. See related publications below.
Research commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Assembly Government has commissioned research to measure the social impact of migration at a local authority level in three areas; Wrexham, Newport and Carmarthenshire. It is expected that this research will be available by May 2008.
The Welsh Consortium for Refugees Asylum Seekers and Migrants
The WCRASM have commissioned research to identify which organisations in the statutory voluntary and community sectors are responding to migrant workers issues and how the work can be coordinated effectively. Read more about the WCRASM here.
Office for National Statistics
In 2006 The Office for National Statistics (ONS) set up an interdepartmental Task Force to identify timely improvements that could be made to international migration statistics. The Executive Summary of the Task Force report and recommendations can be found under related publications below. Read more about the work of the ONS to improve migrant statistics here.
Local Government Association/Local Government Analysis and Research Work programme on Migration
The Local Government Association (LGA), through the Local Government Analysis and Research Group (LGAR), has started a wide ranging work programme on migration. Under related publications below, read about sources of migration data and information.
Local Government Analysis and Research (LGAR) has for the first time negotiated and secured access to local authority level WRS data from the Home Office. Access local authority level WRS data here.
If you do not have a .gov.uk email address you can access national and regional data here.
Estimating the scale and impacts of migration at local levels
Commissioned by LGAR on behalf of the LGA, and produced by the Institute for Community Cohesion (ICoCo), this report looks at the scale of recent population changes and the impact on local services. The report highlights fifteen main areas where services have come under pressure including housing, translation and interpretation services, health and children's services. Download the report from related publications below.
- There were 16,200 registrations from A8 nationals to the WRS between May 2004 and March 2007 and 17,300 NINo applications over the same period
Profiles of migrant workers in Wales
There is very little accurate data on the characteristics of migrant workers in Wales and much of the work that has been carried out to identify age, gender and other personal characteristics of migrant workers is based on English data.
Two thirds of applications to the Workers Registration Scheme in Wales have been from Poland and a further 15 per cent from Slovakia.
Worker Registration Approvals in Wales up to March 2007 by country of origin. Source Welsh Assembly Government.
Eight out of ten migrants registering with the WRS are aged between 18-34.
Issues that migrant workers encounter in Wales
The experiences that migrant workers have of public services and of the communities in which they live are diverse and no comprehensive survey or analysis in Wales has yet been undertaken.
Rapid and unexpected change in local demography’s can be unsettling and bring about local tensions challenges and concerns about competition. Migrant workers are particularly vulnerable to race hate crime and although notoriously underreported race hate crime against people from Poland and other eastern European countries is being documented in some areas of Wales.
Drawing from limited anecdotal evidence available from Race Equality Councils in Wales, migrant workers refer to problems in relation to;
- unscrupulous employers,
- lack of English and Welsh language skills
- in some cases ill adjusted services.
These issues can cause isolation and have a direct impact upon a migrant workers ability to fulfil their potential and integrate into Wales’ communities.
The Local Government Association has produced a good practice guide for local authorities and others to respond positively and proactively to migration. See related publications below.
The Wales TUC, Thompsons Solicitors, Unison, Unite and GMB
The Wales TUC, Thompsons Solicitors, Unison, Unite and GMB have recently published a report that examines the experiences of migrant workers in the workplace. See related publications below.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF)
The JRF carried out extensive research that looked at migrants lives outside the workplace. See related publications below.
The local authority perspective on migration in Wales
Many local authorities cite immigration from A8 nationals to the area as key drivers in keeping local business in the community, filling skill shortages, and increasing the output of local economies.
Local authorities encounter problems in delivering and planning services for migrant workers because of the dearth of information on the number make up and trends of migrant workers in their areas.
The WLGA believe that the development of policy and services in relation to migrant workers should take a rights based approach; this approach recognises the rights that migrant workers have and the responsibilities of both the migrant worker and the host community to ensure fair and equitable access to public services. A sensible informed debate beginning from a rights based premise will help to balance the negative context in which much of the discussion concerning migrant workers is taking place at the moment. See related publications below to read more about a rights based policy approach to immigration.
There is a need to ensure that additional funding is given to areas in Wales that experience rapid population change in the current year that it occurs. Read the WLGA response to the National Assembly for Wales response to its inquiry into the needs and experiences of migrant workers and their families. See related publications below.