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| UK workers may be unprotected in event of migration surge, says Labour | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The government has failed to introduce measures to protect low-skilled UK workers whose jobs may be threatened by new migrants from eastern Europe, two senior shadow ministers have claimed. | The government has failed to introduce measures to protect low-skilled UK workers whose jobs may be threatened by new migrants from eastern Europe, two senior shadow ministers have claimed. |
| As Britain opened its borders to Bulgarian and Romanian workers on New Year's Day, shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, wrote that the government had ignored calls to strengthen existing legislation that could stop employers undercutting British employees' wages by recruiting cheaper staff from overseas. | As Britain opened its borders to Bulgarian and Romanian workers on New Year's Day, shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, wrote that the government had ignored calls to strengthen existing legislation that could stop employers undercutting British employees' wages by recruiting cheaper staff from overseas. |
| David Hanson, the shadow immigration minister, told the BBC the government had allowed the proliferation of recruitment agencies that recruit solely from eastern Europe. | David Hanson, the shadow immigration minister, told the BBC the government had allowed the proliferation of recruitment agencies that recruit solely from eastern Europe. |
| Their comments came as the first Romanians and Bulgarians with unrestricted access to the UK labour market began to arrive amid a deepening political row. | Their comments came as the first Romanians and Bulgarians with unrestricted access to the UK labour market began to arrive amid a deepening political row. |
| All political parties are aware that the possibility of high numbers of new migrants has become a highly charged issue, fuelled by unsubstantiated claims that the fresh arrivals could lead to more crime and social problems. | All political parties are aware that the possibility of high numbers of new migrants has become a highly charged issue, fuelled by unsubstantiated claims that the fresh arrivals could lead to more crime and social problems. |
| Cooper wrote on her blog that Labour wanted to prevent unscrupulous employers slashing existing wages to recruit cheaper foreign workers. | Cooper wrote on her blog that Labour wanted to prevent unscrupulous employers slashing existing wages to recruit cheaper foreign workers. |
| "We want to see action to stop immigration being abused and exploited as a source of cheap labour to undercut wages and jobs. | "We want to see action to stop immigration being abused and exploited as a source of cheap labour to undercut wages and jobs. |
| "That means stronger enforcement of the minimum wage and action against gangmasters or employers who put migrant workers in overcrowded accommodation then exploit them on poverty pay – undercutting local workers and responsible businesses too," she said. | "That means stronger enforcement of the minimum wage and action against gangmasters or employers who put migrant workers in overcrowded accommodation then exploit them on poverty pay – undercutting local workers and responsible businesses too," she said. |
| She singled out Domino's Pizza chief executive, Lance Batchelor, for criticism after he complained last month that he was unable to fill 1,000 vacancies since migration rules were tightened."If he has trouble filling jobs, why doesn't he pay staff more – many aren't even paid the living wage," she said. | She singled out Domino's Pizza chief executive, Lance Batchelor, for criticism after he complained last month that he was unable to fill 1,000 vacancies since migration rules were tightened."If he has trouble filling jobs, why doesn't he pay staff more – many aren't even paid the living wage," she said. |
| Hanson, interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live on Wednesday, said the government had failed to introduce a series of measures to slow the recruitment of low-skilled workers from eastern Europe. | Hanson, interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live on Wednesday, said the government had failed to introduce a series of measures to slow the recruitment of low-skilled workers from eastern Europe. |
| "We have been arguing for the past year that [the government] should be looking at other measures … particularly focusing on recruitment agencies which are recruiting solely from eastern Europe. Those are other measures we could be doing to focus on low-skilled immigration," he said. | "We have been arguing for the past year that [the government] should be looking at other measures … particularly focusing on recruitment agencies which are recruiting solely from eastern Europe. Those are other measures we could be doing to focus on low-skilled immigration," he said. |
| Romanian representative Roxana Carare, an honorary consul in Britain, said the number of people travelling to the UK would not change, but added that there was demand for Romanian and Bulgarian labour. | Romanian representative Roxana Carare, an honorary consul in Britain, said the number of people travelling to the UK would not change, but added that there was demand for Romanian and Bulgarian labour. |
| "The numbers haven't changed because people have been able to travel since 2007," she said. "But I hear that people are being recruited, so they are coming in response to the demand for work. Romanians are being recruited by work agencies from everywhere in Europe, not just UK agencies. | "The numbers haven't changed because people have been able to travel since 2007," she said. "But I hear that people are being recruited, so they are coming in response to the demand for work. Romanians are being recruited by work agencies from everywhere in Europe, not just UK agencies. |
| "It's down to the employer to decide who they are going to offer a job to, but if agencies are going to recruit workers from Romania then there is a reason for that." | "It's down to the employer to decide who they are going to offer a job to, but if agencies are going to recruit workers from Romania then there is a reason for that." |
| The Guardian disclosed on Tuesday that MPs on the all-parliamentary party group on Gypsies, Travellers and Roma have expressed alarm about provocative language, as a prominent Tory council leader suggested some Roma were planning to come to the UK to "pickpocket and aggressively beg" following the end of labour market controls on the two countries. | The Guardian disclosed on Tuesday that MPs on the all-parliamentary party group on Gypsies, Travellers and Roma have expressed alarm about provocative language, as a prominent Tory council leader suggested some Roma were planning to come to the UK to "pickpocket and aggressively beg" following the end of labour market controls on the two countries. |
| Ahead of the lifting of the restrictions, Philippa Roe of Westminster city council blamed Roma in central London for already causing "a massive amount of disruption and low-level crime", including defecating on doorsteps. | Ahead of the lifting of the restrictions, Philippa Roe of Westminster city council blamed Roma in central London for already causing "a massive amount of disruption and low-level crime", including defecating on doorsteps. |
| But fellow councillors have questioned her claims. Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of the Labour group on the council, said he knew of two incidents where Roma have been accused of defecating in the street over the last eight months but these should be seen in the context of a general rise in homelessness across the borough. | But fellow councillors have questioned her claims. Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of the Labour group on the council, said he knew of two incidents where Roma have been accused of defecating in the street over the last eight months but these should be seen in the context of a general rise in homelessness across the borough. |
| "I have asked the council to provide me with the figures of incidents related to Roma following her comments. She should be very careful before rushing to judgment about a particular group of people," he said. | "I have asked the council to provide me with the figures of incidents related to Roma following her comments. She should be very careful before rushing to judgment about a particular group of people," he said. |
| Ninety senior Conservatives attempted to block the lifting of the restrictions in a letter to David Cameron, arguing he could invoke a clause in EU law to keep the borders shut. Ministers have denied such a move would be feasible. | Ninety senior Conservatives attempted to block the lifting of the restrictions in a letter to David Cameron, arguing he could invoke a clause in EU law to keep the borders shut. Ministers have denied such a move would be feasible. |
| Tim Farron, the president of the Liberal Democrats, criticised his party's Tory partners for creating an atmosphere of hysteria around immigration. | Tim Farron, the president of the Liberal Democrats, criticised his party's Tory partners for creating an atmosphere of hysteria around immigration. |
| "We are being watched. The picture from the Tory side of the Coalition is not pretty. A report showed we are heading to be the largest economy in Europe," he told the Daily Mirror. | "We are being watched. The picture from the Tory side of the Coalition is not pretty. A report showed we are heading to be the largest economy in Europe," he told the Daily Mirror. |
| "A lot of that is down to us embracing the open market. It is economically stupid to make the fuss the Tories have been making. I would not necessarily call it racism but it is ugly and stupid," he said. | "A lot of that is down to us embracing the open market. It is economically stupid to make the fuss the Tories have been making. I would not necessarily call it racism but it is ugly and stupid," he said. |
| Immigration Minister Mark Harper claimed that the tighter restrictions on access to benefits would ensure that any migrants would arrive "for the right reasons". | Immigration Minister Mark Harper claimed that the tighter restrictions on access to benefits would ensure that any migrants would arrive "for the right reasons". |
| "Those changes make sure that people are coming here and they're coming here for the right reasons – to work and to contribute, not to try to claim from our benefits system," he said. Rajeev Syal | "Those changes make sure that people are coming here and they're coming here for the right reasons – to work and to contribute, not to try to claim from our benefits system," he said. Rajeev Syal |
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