Polish Migration to Scotland
Polish migration to Scotland is very, very obvious if you go out on the streets. Or on the buses. Or in the parks. Or you seek to have any form of handiwork done around the house. Here's a quick update on the figures, but the beginnings of a comment about the human effects:
But the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in Scotland said on Monday (12 June) that an increasing numbers of the migrant workers are complaining of low pay, long hours and substandard accommodation.
"Bureaux across Scotland are hearing reports of exploitative employers and employment agencies paying below the national minimum wage and making illegal deductions," said a statement by the CAB.
The bureau also said that workers are living in overcrowded caravans, being expected to sleep two to a bed or on the floor, and facing excessive charges for accommodation and utility costs.
"Workers have told bureaux of being given false expectations or wrong information about their employment prospects while still in their countries of origin," said chief executive Citizens Advice Scotland, Kaliani Lyle
"Once in the UK, however, their options for complaining are few, as losing their job means having to return to their own country unless further work becomes available," she added.
But the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in Scotland said on Monday (12 June) that an increasing numbers of the migrant workers are complaining of low pay, long hours and substandard accommodation.
"Bureaux across Scotland are hearing reports of exploitative employers and employment agencies paying below the national minimum wage and making illegal deductions," said a statement by the CAB.
The bureau also said that workers are living in overcrowded caravans, being expected to sleep two to a bed or on the floor, and facing excessive charges for accommodation and utility costs.
"Workers have told bureaux of being given false expectations or wrong information about their employment prospects while still in their countries of origin," said chief executive Citizens Advice Scotland, Kaliani Lyle
"Once in the UK, however, their options for complaining are few, as losing their job means having to return to their own country unless further work becomes available," she added.
posted by BondWoman at 1:47 pm
6 Comments:
My family are from smallsville Dumfries and when visiting I haven't noticed any Polish. In fact, the only ethnic minority there are the English.
Once, in June 2003 I saw a black person in Lochmaben - must've been lost!
That may be the case in Scotland, although I suspect that there are plenty in the hospitality sector and farming. It's not the case in Ireland. I have seen plenty evidence of Eastern European migration to smallsville west-of-ireland on my trips, e.g. staffing small shops, hospitality work, etc.
East Coast Scotland is swamped, the west coast doesnt seem to have the same imigration issue. I cant fault anyone for trying to better themselves but did they all have to come at once ? I have started to see some friction and annoyance growing in the otherwise quite laid back east coast mentality over the presence of eastern europeans (eg Gorgie/Dalry/Dumbiedykes/Leith areas of Edinburgh, Dundee up to Arbroath regions). Although Dundee up to Arbroath have always had a large student population coming across for the fruit picking in the summer, they typically go home back to there studies. I dont really want to see any violence or bigotry occuring but somehow i cant see it going down any other route, unfortunately
"I cant fault anyone for trying to better themselves but did they all have to come at once"
I agree I wouldnt fault THEM for coming, but I'd certainly fault the Government for allowing this influx! It is creating an excess of labour which is holding wages of all manual workers, and even some white collar workers down, and adding to pressures on housing, schools, the NHS, road congestion, the police, leisure facilites, shops etc basically just taking OUR living space away from us, in an already exceedingly densely populated island.
We didnt want these Poles. We were never asked. The Government have behaved like arrogant tossers and are STILL, despite all the problems its causing, showing NO readiness to get a grip on immigration. In fact they are doing the opposite, making it easier for more to come! If we were not such a supine domesticated nation we would have taken to the streets by now. NO other country would accept their take over by peaceful means in this way!
They wish to make the British into a minority in our own country in order to neutralise national opposition to the EU. They used demography to weaken Protestant oppositon in Northern Ireland, and they are doing the same to the UK.
hi... I am Pole myself... maybe before you started was be good to check a few things... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_British or history books about Scottish migration to Poland in 17th centaury and battle for Britain in II WW with Polish pilots... we have a golden times too...
I have read the wikipedia Scottish-Polish link and appreciate what is said. But from a nationals point of view, my husband and I have worked hard since the day we left school. When we married we had to stay with my dad, as the council would not house us, even after I had our first child. So you surely can understand why there is some resentment when foreigners are housed as a priority over local people. I agree it is the governments fault for this not people looking for a better life for them and their families.
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