Migrant Labour

I wonder if in a few years time the jobs that are being taken - so to speak - will be much higher up the ladder. So many of them are university educated and willing to work it's only a matter of time. I wonder how these countries will continue to survive when their skilled and educated population are all leaving.

[northwind]

I think the government are making a complete **** of it to be honest, I've got no problem with the migrant worker situation at all but it's obviously not being controlled or monitored properly, and that's obviously not right. But then, I can guarantee this is going to be used as part of the anti-immigration argument, which I don't think makes any sense... Anti government, aye, that fits the bill.

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

I wonder if in a few years time the jobs that are being taken - so to speak - will be much higher up the ladder. So many of them are university educated and willing to work it's only a matter of time. I wonder how these countries will continue to survive when their skilled and educated population are all leaving.

It's already happening, has been for years. Everyone thinks of the polish plumber but there's huge numbers of eastern europeans in the financial services industry frinstance. Mainly because of the p***-oor standard or british applicants to be honest, and the general skill shortage. There's still not enough to fill the analyst and administrative mid-level positions though.

Originally Posted by northwind

It's already happening, has been for years. Everyone thinks of the polish plumber but there's huge numbers of eastern europeans in the financial services industry frinstance. Mainly because of the p***-oor standard or british applicants to be honest, and the general skill shortage. There's still not enough to fill the analyst and administrative mid-level positions though.

I studied engineering at Manchester Uni where the majority of students were foreign. They were heading in to every business about, as Chinese headed businesses would recruit only Chinese, similarly for Asian businesses (pardon the geographical sweeping stereotypes here!). I will make clear I'm not playing a victim card at all here. For us British born we applied to the businesses open to all only.
I do think however that the Government is meant to be working for us, and taking care of its nationals first. One aspect of Britain I do enjoy is that it is a multicultural country, and I hope it stays that way! But we can't have a jobs market where political correctness is too afraid to step in to prevent all our skilled industry being outsourced to foreign countries. The fact the the government has no idea of the numbers of legal immigrants makes me terrified of the number here illegally.

Originally Posted by Ed

IMHO people have got so used to the lies and misrepresentations coming from this mendacious government that they don't get worked up about it any more.

That in its self is something to get worked up about, but people are more interested in what the McCanns are up to than what's going on in government.

People get the government they deserve.

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

But we can't have a jobs market where political correctness is too afraid to step in to prevent all our skilled industry being outsourced to foreign countries. The fact the the government has no idea of the numbers of legal immigrants makes me terrified of the number here illegally.

As said above, a lot of immigrants with more useful skills are willing to work harder than a lot of Brits for less money.

We have to trade with the rest of the world. Primary and secondary services are pretty much dead here, because we've become too expensive. The only thing we really have to offer at a price that the rest of the world are prepared to pay for are high level financial and technical services.

We can only embrace the development of Poland etc and use it as motivation to work harder and develop even further, lest we rest on our laurels until the rest of the world can do everything we can at half the price and we're left redundant.

The government getting all protectionist by baring foriegn workers or trying to prevent work being outsourced to other countries because we've got an entire work force of numpties won't work in the long run.

My take as an immigrant worker to the whole story.....

Don't be amazed people! I come from Greece and the exact same thing happened when Albanians started crossing the border. They worked for peanuts to get a start in a better life. They worked harder than the locals and would take on jobs that other people would not. It's the same everywhere with immigrants.

Now here in the UK the problem as I see it is that you have to many people shouting about peoples rights ))) don't deport X cause it is dangerous in his country. Keep him here and let him claim benefits and be a criminal. On the other hand pay is a lot better here than it would in Greece so my quality of life is better here than back home.

Overall immigrants do work harder cause they need to survive. I know I work a lot harder than my british white colleagues hence why I earn more than they do and get promotions before they do.....but can't see how this is my fault (or in generally an immigrants fault).

Originally Posted by 600+

My take as an immigrant worker to the whole story.....

Don't be amazed people! I come from Greece and the exact same thing happened when Albanians started crossing the border. They worked for peanuts to get a start in a better life. They worked harder than the locals and would take on jobs that other people would not. It's the same everywhere with immigrants.

Now here in the UK the problem as I see it is that you have to many people shouting about peoples rights ))) don't deport X cause it is dangerous in his country. Keep him here and let him claim benefits and be a criminal. On the other hand pay is a lot better here than it would in Greece so my quality of life is better here than back home.

Overall immigrants do work harder cause they need to survive. I know I work a lot harder than my british white colleagues hence why I earn more than they do and get promotions before they do.....but can't see how this is my fault (or in generally an immigrants fault).

It's not, we should embrace any benefits we can get. But what role does the government have other than to support the people who pay for it? By keeping no record of what's happening here we can't even make an informed desicion as to whether immigration limits would help us. The government should not be looking for economic gain over the personal wealth of the people it 'serves'

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

I do think however that the Government is meant to be working for us, and taking care of its nationals first.

This is an excellent point

So the pattern emerging is that every immigrant is a hard worker/works harder than the local.....surely not.

Whilst i've had a some Polish(immigrant) plumbers/electricians, who have done good work, there are as many incompetent cowboy immigrant labourers as there are nationals.

Lets not get into the mindset, where every immigrant is harder working/better etc....as thats complete ********. Some are good, some are bad.

My main worry is overpopulation full stop. I couldn't get petrol on Saturday cos there were queues at 2 different petrol stations, and Sainsburies was rammed. Every road into Oxford is always gridlocked. I don't care if its migrants, nationals or aliens, I think the government really needs to cap our out of control population growth. Apparently at this rate we will hit 71 million in another 14 years! The increased traffic makes more problems, more congestion is more polution, is more wasted petrol, it just makes everything exponentially worse .