May 2009

Government Outlines New Approach to English Language Provision

The Department for Innovation Universities and Skills (DIUS) has set out how it will attempt to ensure English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision is focused on excluded groups and plays a key role in tackling community cohesion.

Under this "New Approach to ESOL" local authorities will need to work with learning providers and voluntary and community organisations to identify priority groups within their areas to direct ESOL support to. The approach is currently being piloted by pathfinder authorities, of which Bristol is one, but will be rolled out across all local authorities in September 2009.

To read the government report, "A New Approach to ESOL" please see: A New Approach to ESOL

To read the response to the DIUS consultation on the initial proposals in 2008 click here: DIUS Consultation

A8 Migration Falls to Lowest Level Since Accession

Migration from the Eastern European A8 states to the South West postal region has fallen to its lowest level since enlargement of the EU in May 2004, according to figures released by the UK Border Agency.

Migration from the Eastern European A8 states to the South West postal region fell from 2,215 in October – December 2008 to 1,635 in January – March 2009, the lowest level recorded since A8 acccesion and over 60% lower than the equivalent number who came between January – March 2008.

Nationally A8 migration is also at its lowest level since accession with 23,000 Workers Registration Scheme applications in the first three months of 2009, compared to 48,755 in the same period of 2008.

To view the Accession Monitoring Report click here: Accession Monitoring Report

To view Bulgarian and Romanian Accession Statistics click here: Bulgarian and Romanian Accession

April 2009

MAC Call for Evidence

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), a group of academics which advises the government on economic migration, has published a call for evidence related to its review of tier 1 (highly skilled migrants) and tier 2 (skilled migrants) of the Points Based System.

The deadline for submissions is 11th June 2009.

To view the call for evidence click here: Call for Evidence 

29th April – New Recommended Shortage Occupation List Published

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), a group of academics which advises the government on economic migration, has published its first partial review of the shortage occupation list. The list includes those "skilled" occupations where the MAC feels there are sufficient labour shortages to justify recruitment of non-European workers and forms of one of the entry routes under tier 2 of the Points Based System.

Some of the main suggested changes are:

• To reduce the salary requirements of Senior Care Workers, following concerns that many care homes will find it difficult to recruit.
• To increase the salary requirements of Chefs.
• To remove social workers who do not work with children and families.

A number of changes have been to healthcare professions. Some nursing occupations have been removed, while more consultant positions have been included.

The government will now decide whether to accept the new list and whether to make any amendments. A further review, including those occupations not reviewed this time round, will be carried out in Autumn 2009.

To read the report and see the occupations included in the list click here: Report

Future of Migration Policy in the South West outlined by Regional Scrutiny Report

The South West Regional Assembly has concluded its scrutiny of the South West Regional Development Agency’s migrant worker policies with a report highlighting future areas in which regional partners need to work together to address the issues around migration. In particular it is hoped that the report will feed into the development of the regional Migrant Workers Action Plan.

Equality South West have been heavily involved in the scrutiny review and have carried out research for the Assembly’s Scrutiny Panel. To view the report click here: Migration Trends in SW Migration Trends in SW

For more information, and to download a copy of the Regional Assembly’s final report click here: Regional Assembly

8th April - Government decides to keep transitory restrictions on Eastern European Migrants

The Government, following advice from its Migration Advisory Committee, have decided to maintain the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS).

Under the scheme most migrant workers from the A8 group of Eastern European states, which joined the EU in 2004, have to register and pay a fee in order to work in the UK, unless they are self-employed. These migrants are not entitled to most non-contributory benefits until they have completed one year’s continuous employment while being on the scheme, prompting concerns that some A8 migrants who lose their job before completing this period become destitute, with no recourse to public funds.

The TUC have also expressed concern because if workers fail to register, for whatever reason, they are open exploitation by their employers. The WRS will cease to operate, at the latest, in 2011, when all EU countries will have to list any remaining immigration restrictions on A8 migrants, under EU law.

To read the Migration Advisory Committee’s report, which recommended maintaining the restrictions, click here: Migration Advisory Committee

To read the TUC press release click here: TUC Press Release

February 2009

24th February - UKBA Figures Point to Further Reduction in Accession State Migration

Inflows of EU migrant workers to the South West and the UK as a whole have fallen considerably towards the end of 2008, according to new figures released by the UK Border Agency.

WRS registrations to Eastern European Accession 8 nationals in the South West postal region fell by 47% from 3,760 between July and September 2008 to a mere 2,040 in October – December 2008. This is less than half of the total which registered in the region between October and December 2007 (at 4,355), indicating that inflows of migrant workers have begun to decline significantly in the later part of last year.

The picture is repeated nationally where there were 29,000 WRS applications in the three months coming up to December 2008 compared to 53,000 in the same period of 2007. UKBA put the decrease down to a drop in Polish applications which fell from 36,000 in the last quarter of 2007 to 16,000 in the same period in 2008. Applications for Jobseekers Allowance increased in the last quarter of 2008 from 1,923 to 2,540, although of these 1,708 were disallowed.

Nationally applications from Bulgarian and Romanian nationals for accession worker cards and registration certificates fell from 10,105 in the last quarter of 2007 to 6,010 in the same period of 2008. Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme applications were slightly higher (690 compared to 709) while Sector Based Scheme applications (covering food processing) were slightly lower (475 compared to 415).

Click here to read the UKBA press release: UKBA

Click here to read the report on Accession 8 immigration (which includes immigration from Poland, Estonia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia & Slovenia):  Accession 8

Click here to read the report on Bulgarian and Romanian immigration: Bulgarian and Romanian

23rd February - Tighter Restriction on non-European Workers Announced

The Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has outlined new measures to reduce the number of skilled migrant workers coming to the UK from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). The new measures, which are in addition to the increased restrictions already brought in by the New Points Based System, include:

· Tightening the resident labour market test

· Raising the salary and qualification requirements for highly skilled migrants (falling under tier 1). They will now need a UK Masters degree (as opposed to a UK Bachelors degree) and a minimum salary of £20,000.

· Using the shortage occupation list to trigger skills reviews in each occupation covered with the aim of upskilling the UK born workforce

The Home Secretary has also asked the Migration Advisory Committee (a panel of experts tasked with giving the government advice on the economic need for and implications of migration) to carry out further work, including:

· an assessment of the economic contribution made by the dependents of Points Based System migrants

· a review of the need for further changes to the criteria for tier 1 for 2010.11

· a review of whether skilled non-EEA immigration under tier 2 of the Points Based System should be restricted to occupations within the Shortage Occupation List only. If such a proposal was implemented this would mean that individual employers would not be able to recruit skilled non-EEA migrants even after they have filled the conditions of the Resident Labour Market Test and the vacancy has been open for some time. Employers would therefore depend entirely on the work of the Migration Advisory Committee to ensure that the Shortage Occupation List is flexible and accurate enough to respond to labour shortages.

The UK Border Agency press release can viewed here: UK Border Agency

9th February - BERR Launches New Campaign to Help Agency Workers Know their Rights

The Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) has launched a new £1 million campaign to help agency workers (which include many migrant workers) learn their rights and employers know their responsibilities. The initiative will include a poster campaign in public places and a new booklet outlining workers’ rights. The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, which regulates recruitment agencies has also recently expanded its size and extended its investigative powers.

To view the press release from BERR and access the booklet Agency Workers: Know Your Rights click here: BERR

Agency workers who feel they are being treated unfairly by their employer can phone the Employment Agencies Standard Inspectorate on 0845 955 5105.

January 2009

29th January - New DVD for Polish Workers Launched (from South West TUC Press Release)

The South West TUC has produced a DVD to help Polish workers avoid exploitation during the recession.

Filmed in Bristol, Yeovil, Taunton, Frome and parts of Devon as well as in London and Poland, the interactive DVD will be a useful workplace tool for all workers.

Monika Stennett, who runs Equality South West’s Migrant Workers Project. "The biggest problems are employers not paying holiday pay, sick pay or maternity pay," she says. "And because migrant workers don’t know they’re entitled to them, they don’t ask for them, so the employers get away with it.

"What migrant workers need – and what this DVD provides – is accurate and straightforward information."

The DVD will be launched in Exeter at a network meeting of migrant worker self-support and community groups organised by Equality South West.

For a full copy of the TUC press release please click here: TUC Press Report

For more information please contact monika.stennett@equalitysouthwest.org.uk

15th January - Concern over Prospects for Economic Recovery as Borders, Citizenship & Immigration Bill is Published

New obligations on non-EU nationals attempting to achieve British citizenship were outlined today by the government, amid concern that tougher immigration rules could harm the prospects for economic recovery.

Under the new Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill prospective citizens, who have lived and worked in the country for 5 years, will need to carry out a ‘probationary period’ of at least one year, before they achieve full citizenship. Applicants for Citizenship will need to demonstrate command of English and a record of volunteering. Access to benefits and social housing will be reserved for citizens and permanent residents.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has expressed concern that tougher immigration measures could deter much needed economic migrants and thus damage the UK’s prospects for economic recovery.

To read the UK Border Agency Press Release and access the bill and explanatory notes click here: http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/new-bill-route-to-citizenship

To read the IPPR’s Press Release click here: http://www.ippr.org.uk/pressreleases/?id=3346

Click here to access the Equality Impact Assessment for the Bill and other supporting documents: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/managingourborders/border-cit-imm-bill/

Fears of Rise in Bogus Self Employment as Government Keeps Restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanian Workers

The government have decided to maintain current restrictions on access to the UK labour market for Bulgarians and Romanians for a further twelve months, provoking fears from the TUC that bogus self-employment could increase.

Under current regulations Bulgarians and Romanians do not have the same, virtually unrestrictive, access to the UK labour market enjoyed by other EU citizens, although they can enter the country to take up self-employment, leading to concerns that some businesses are recruiting workers who are officially ‘self employed’ and giving them different pay and conditions to members of their formal workforce.

Following advice from its Migration Advisory Committee the government have decided to raise the quota on the number of Bulgarian and Romanian workers allowed to come into the UK under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme. The decision responds to a claim by the National Farmers Union that £13 million pounds worth of food went unpicked this year due to a shortage of seasonal labour.

To read the TUC press release click here http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-15770-f0.cfm

To read the UK Border Agency press release click here http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/ukworkrestrictionsfora2

The Migration Advisory Committee’s report can be found here http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/workingwithus/mac/macreports/macreport1208/mac_dec08