Migrant workers 'help UK economy'

A report last year claimed there were 1.5m foreign workers in the UK

Migrant workers have boosted the UK economy, with their influx not having a negative effect on employment or wage levels, the TUC has argued.

Foreign workers made a positive net economic contribution, it said, with their share of tax paid exceeding the cost of supplying public services.

But the TUC warned that workers were vulnerable to "unscrupulous" employers not adhering to employment rights.

Ensuring firms paid the minimum wage had to be a priority, it added.

'Substantial contribution'

The UK has seen an influx of migrant workers from eastern Europe since 2004 when a host of new countries joined the European Union.

This has fuelled concerns that workers willing to take low-paid jobs in sectors such as construction, farming and domestic service would depress wages and force other low-skilled workers out of jobs.

We do not do enough to protect vulnerable workers from exploitation Brendan Barber, TUC

Publishing a new report, the TUC said these fears had not been vindicated, partly due to the strength of the economy in recent years.

"Migrant workers are making a substantial contribution to Britain's economy," said Brendan Barber, the TUC's general secretary.

"They haven't caused mass unemployment or held down wages as some would have us believe."

'Exploitation'

But the TUC said that workers with little or no English and no knowledge of their employment rights needed greater protection from exploitation.

"We do not do enough to protect vulnerable workers from exploitation," Mr Barber added.

"If migrant workers are treated fairly and paid a decent wage they can only add to the economy."

Recent statistics suggest migrant numbers from eastern Europe are well down so far this year, due in part to increased job opportunities and wages at home.

This has led to concerns about the impact on industries such as fruit farming which are dependant on seasonal foreign labour.

Farmers have complained about the effect of caps on foreign workers introduced to encourage employers to recruit more locally.