As part of the development of the project, the Door Step team undertook research into the housing, work and welfare experiences of new migrants in Scotland. Published in March 2007, This report details the findings of the initial stages of our research, focusing on Polish migrant workers, who comprise the largest new migrant community in Scotland.
…download the full report here (pdf 2mb)…
Executive Summary
Methodology
The development of this report has involved a review of the existing research and consultation with the Door Step Advisory Group and other stakeholders. However, the principal method has been direct community consultation with Polish migrant workers.
Summary of Key findings
For many migrants, the experience of coming to the UK has been, on the whole, a positive one. There are concerns, however, that government policy is adding to inequality, abuse of rights and exploitation of migrants in the UK. There is growing evidence, confirmed by migrants participating in this research, of migrants living in poverty, very poor housing, and experiencing homelessness and destitution.
a. Migrant workers’ rights
- There is an inequality of rights in relation to work, housing, and welfare support. New migrants have less rights, and face difficulties exercising the rights they do have.
- While a number of research reports have been published recently on migrant workers in the UK and in Scotland, most have focused on the impact on local economies and the labour market, as opposed to the impact on workers’ rights.
- There is still a lack of practical solutions for the employment,welfare and housing needs of the new migrants.
- TUC research into migrant workers reveals that exploitation within workplaces ranges from discrimination in conditions and payment below the minimum wage to situations that amount to forced or bonded labour.
- All those questioned in our study were aware of the obligation to register with the Workers Registration Scheme. Around 75% of workers were registered through their current employer.
- Only 6% of participants in the study considered that they were working at the level of their educational or professional qualifications and experience.
- Most accession state workers are living in, or have experienced, overcrowded, expensive, private rented accommodation, with limited security of tenure.
- Less than half of those interviewed who were aware of housing associations (70%) had actually applied. Several who did apply did not receive an acknowledgement.
- There are different entitlements to homelessness assistance in England and Scotland, with more housing rights under Scottish law, but equality of exclusion from housing benefit under UK law.
- There is inconsistency in local authorities’ interpretation of homelessness legislation in relation to migrants, and the guidance is in dispute.
- There is evidence of “gatekeeping”by local authority housing and homelessness services, preventing migrants from accessing services, including those who are entitled to services.
b. Access to advice and information
- There are barriers to migrant workers exercising their rights and to seeking help to do so. In general, migrant workers are less aware of their rights and are the least likely to access formal information, advice and support services.
- There is confusion amongst housing and support providers as to the entitlement of migrants to social housing.
- Information and advice is most prevalent in the form of printed or online welcome packs.There is less evidence of rights-based independent advice services meeting the needs of migrant workers.
- For help with problems, most participants in the study had sought advice and support and information from friends and colleagues rather than agencies.
- Most people interviewed had not seen the welcome packs produced by the Scottish Executive or Glasgow City Council.
- Almost half of those interviewed in our study stated they did not know where to go for help in the event of becoming homeless. “Sleep under a bridge”was a common response. Only one participant suggested approaching the Local Authority.
- Housing advice cannot be usefully given in isolation, as the housing situation of migrant workers can be linked to their residence status and employment status.
- Accommodation is often tied to employment, so losing a job can mean becoming homeless. Thiscan be a disincentive to seeking help and must be an additional consideration for advice services.
- Although most migrant workers are aware of social rented housing, there are often misconceptions of entitlements to apply, and the nature of social housing provision. Less than half of those who are aware of housing associations actually apply.
- The right to homeless assistance is tied to right of residency, which is dependent on economic status; losing a job can mean becoming homeless and losing the right to Local Authority support at the same time.
Conclusions and recommendations
- Migrant workers are currently ‘falling through the net’ of advice provision. Many migrants do not have access to reliable, accurate, culturally-appropriate advice and support to enable them to access their housing, labour and welfare rights.
- There is confusion among housing and support providers as to the entitlement of migrants to social housing.
- Successful housing advice must be integrated with advice and information on labour and welfare rights.
- There is an unmet need for a network of advisers with specialist training in the rights of migrants and refugees.
- In the view of the Door Step team, the people best placed to receive this training, and to develop advice resources in a participatory way, are migrants and refugees themselves.
- We believe that the Door Step methodology offers an innovative, effective and sustainable way to create a network of migrant and refugee advisers across Scotland.
…download the full report here (pdf 2mb)…
