Bishop urges action from government over care for migrant workers
-12/09/06
Many migran
Bishop urges action from government over care for migrant workers
-12/09/06
Many migrant workers could find themselves on the streets this winter unless the Government takes swift action, a Catholic bishop has said.
The comments from the Bishop of Lancaster, The Right Rev Patrick OíDonoghue, who met with a delegation from the Polish-British Mission for Employment to the UK led by Polish Charity the Barka Foundation, on their visit to London to find out at first hand about homelessness among Polish migrants.
The bishop, who is Chair of the Office for Refugee and Migration Policy of the Catholic Bishopsí Conference of England and Wales, also met with representatives from homelessness charities – Housing Justice, the Passage, the Simon Community and the Upper Room.
Praising the UK government for allowing the right to free movement of workers from the 8 countries who have recently joined the EU, in a statement he said that it had failed to provide assistance or programmes to familiarise workers with British life.
As a consequence, he said, many fail and end up living in poverty and homelessness and the government cannot simply walk away. At the very least it should, the bishop said, together with the Polish government, provide additional resources to homelessness charities and other NGOís providing information, advice and support to these migrants.
“Our economy and culture has benefited greatly from the free movement of workers in Europe, but all too often we have not supported these workers. It is with regret that we hear of an increasing number of migrant workers becoming homeless, sleeping rough and living in squalor and poverty, with no family or community support. This is particularly true with migrants who arrive outside the Worker Registration Scheme or as self-employed and cannot access welfare support when in difficulty” the bishop said.
ìMuch work is already being done by the Catholic Church in England and Wales working with and supporting the Polish Community,î Bishop Patrick told the delegation.
ìSince the Second World War, the Polish Community has made an amazing contribution to the enrichment of our Church life. There are more than 100 Polish priests working in parishes and Polish Centres up and down the country and a significant number of Catholic Churches have opened their doors for Mass, Sacramental care and the establishment of community life. Much of this has been facilitated by the office of the Vicar Delegate for Poles in England and Wales. There is always more to be done and I ask parishes to allow the use of halls so that migrants can meet with one another, deepen fellowship and find a place that they can call home. They also need our support for better employment and human rights. I must also add that in our interdependent world of migration, we must not forget the presence of migrants from other parts of Europe and the global South, many of whom are in an irregular situation. The status and well being of these migrants also deserves our attention.î
Increasing numbers of migrant workers from the new EU member states could find themselves on the streets this winter, unless the government takes swift action the bishop said.
Many migrant workers have found secure and well paid jobs but according to reports from homelessness charities increasing numbers especially those who arrive outside the Worker Registration Scheme are falling victim to exploitative employers who ignore the minimum wage rates, tax and insurance contributions and basic health and safety rules. Many are living in squalor and poverty.
Bishop urges action from government over care for migrant workers
-12/09/06
Many migrant workers could find themselves on the streets this winter unless the Government takes swift action, a Catholic bishop has said.
The comments from the Bishop of Lancaster, The Right Rev Patrick OíDonoghue, who met with a delegation from the Polish-British Mission for Employment to the UK led by Polish Charity the Barka Foundation, on their visit to London to find out at first hand about homelessness among Polish migrants.
The bishop, who is Chair of the Office for Refugee and Migration Policy of the Catholic Bishopsí Conference of England and Wales, also met with representatives from homelessness charities – Housing Justice, the Passage, the Simon Community and the Upper Room.
Praising the UK government for allowing the right to free movement of workers from the 8 countries who have recently joined the EU, in a statement he said that it had failed to provide assistance or programmes to familiarise workers with British life.
As a consequence, he said, many fail and end up living in poverty and homelessness and the government cannot simply walk away. At the very least it should, the bishop said, together with the Polish government, provide additional resources to homelessness charities and other NGOís providing information, advice and support to these migrants.
“Our economy and culture has benefited greatly from the free movement of workers in Europe, but all too often we have not supported these workers. It is with regret that we hear of an increasing number of migrant workers becoming homeless, sleeping rough and living in squalor and poverty, with no family or community support. This is particularly true with migrants who arrive outside the Worker Registration Scheme or as self-employed and cannot access welfare support when in difficulty” the bishop said.
ìMuch work is already being done by the Catholic Church in England and Wales working with and supporting the Polish Community,î Bishop Patrick told the delegation.
ìSince the Second World War, the Polish Community has made an amazing contribution to the enrichment of our Church life. There are more than 100 Polish priests working in parishes and Polish Centres up and down the country and a significant number of Catholic Churches have opened their doors for Mass, Sacramental care and the establishment of community life. Much of this has been facilitated by the office of the Vicar Delegate for Poles in England and Wales. There is always more to be done and I ask parishes to allow the use of halls so that migrants can meet with one another, deepen fellowship and find a place that they can call home. They also need our support for better employment and human rights. I must also add that in our interdependent world of migration, we must not forget the presence of migrants from other parts of Europe and the global South, many of whom are in an irregular situation. The status and well being of these migrants also deserves our attention.î
Increasing numbers of migrant workers from the new EU member states could find themselves on the streets this winter, unless the government takes swift action the bishop said.
Many migrant workers have found secure and well paid jobs but according to reports from homelessness charities increasing numbers especially those who arrive outside the Worker Registration Scheme are falling victim to exploitative employers who ignore the minimum wage rates, tax and insurance contributions and basic health and safety rules. Many are living in squalor and poverty.