Employing Migrant Workers in the UK

Why Employ Migrant Workers?

There has always been migration for the purposes of work and we acknowledge the vast array of reasons that people have for seeking employment; that employers have for tapping into migrant workers; and the diversity of skills that these employees bring. Having a diverse workplace creates a positive, productive and resilient working environment – with this in mind our members have taken various actions to attract, retain and promote migrant worker employees, which can be seen in our featured case studies. We also have best practice guidelines for employing migrant workers, which can be downloaded, with tips and advice to assist employers in fully engaging with their migrant workforce.

A migrant worker can be defined as "a person who is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national"

Some Key Stats:

• Estimated net long-term migration to the UK in the year to September 2010 was 242,000. This continues the increase since the year to December 2008, when long-term net migration was 163,000.
• Net migration of citizens from A8 countries -  which are the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia -  has increased to 43,000, a rise from a net emigration of -12,000 seen in the year ending September 2009. This is due partly to a fall in emigration from 57,000 to 29,000. Net migration is now at the same level seen in the year ending September 2008.

Source: Migration Statistics Quarterly Report - May 2011 (published May 26 2011 by the Office for National Statistics)