Portuguese Workers In Norfolk

Why and How do they come to the UK?

• High unemployment in Portugal and advertising by UK employment agencies.
• Most Migrant Workers pay to register with an employment agency and pay them for travel to the UK.

What do they do in the UK?

Map of Portuguese In Norfolk

• Work via employment agencies mainly in food processing factories.
• Portuguese people work legally in the UK - they are EU Citizens

Problems faced by Portuguese Migrant Workers

Employment

• Shift work & long hours.
• Exploitation – unlawful deductions from earnings for housing, travel, work clothing.
• Lack of knowledge of employment rights.

Accommodation

• Housing provided by employment agencies and is lost if people change job.
• Poor conditions – often damp with poor heating.
• Overcrowding – some cases of 3 or 4 people sharing a room big enough for 1 person.

Language

• Makes it difficult to access services – some service providers reluctant to use interpreters eg. GPs, hospitals, schools, housing providers, benefits agency & jobcentre.
• Shift work makes it difficult for migrant workers to attend English classes.

Prejudice

• Local people often believe Portuguese live and work in the UK illegally – It is perfectly legal for them to live and work in the UK.
• Belief that Portuguese people are taking jobs away from local people – they are actually adding to the local economy by doing jobs that can’t be filled locally.

Workers from the New EEA Accession States

From 1 May 2004 workers form the new member states are free to come to the UK to live and work. Maltese and Cypriot nationals have full freedom of movement rights. However, nationals from the 8 eastern European states will need to register with the Home Office through the ‘Workers Registration Scheme’ as soon as they find work.

The 8 eastern European states are:

Workers Registration Scheme

Workers from the new eastern European states will need to register on the scheme if they plan to work for more than a month in the UK. The application needs to be made within a month of starting employment (there are penalties for employers who employ people without a certificate). An application to the Workers Registration Scheme costs £70.

After working for 12 months without a break workers on the scheme will have full rights of free movement and can apply for a EEA residence permit confirming this. After these 12 months workers will become entitled to income related benefits such as jobseekers allowance as long as they remain in the labour market and are actively seeking work.

Click on the following links to get more information on the Workers Registration Scheme

Home Office Information on EEA Nationals

The Workers Registration Scheme (application form can be downloaded here)

General Information on Working in the UK