The plight of migrant workers
Large numbers of migrant workers are often available and willing to take low-status, low-pay jobs. Yet, such people's movement towards and within the EU labour market is restricted, hence social networks often create back-door pathways to entry. The EU-funded JOBS TO RENT (Migration and temporary agency work in the EU welfare, tourist and agricultural sectors) project aimed to investigate. The study documented the different forms that flexible migrant labour may take, plus factors affecting temporary agency work in certain economic sectors. Data were taken from two countries very different in terms of legislation concerning agency work: Greece and the United Kingdom. A further goal was to produce an informed policy analysis. The two-year project concluded in September 2014. Greek firms using temporary labour may be subjected to a stricter legal framework than their United Kingdom counterparts. Yet, the employment conditions of agency workers were almost unregulated. Agencies often exploited workers, and created sector monopolies for themselves despite laws. In the United Kingdom, regulations have been largely circumvented by businesses and agencies, particularly in the food industry. Companies and agencies switched workers to contracts offering worse pay and conditions, and routinely discharged employees before they reached the 12-week equal pay qualifying period. However, in certain sectors, including agriculture, employers used a greater number of non-agency workers. Nevertheless, the recruitment of such workers may still involve agencies abroad and various illegal practices. The study concluded that in this country's case, monitoring may be more effective than further legislation. Other European countries demonstrated social and financial support for agency workers, and illustrated the role of collective bargaining above the company level for worker protections. The JOBS TO RENT project revealed the situation regarding labour migration in the EU. The outcomes have policy implications, and the project team offered four recommendations.
Keywords
Migrant workers, agency workers, labour market, migrant labour, Greece, United Kingdom
