Comment: Foreign influx good for region

Mar 10 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

THERE may be some who, for whatever reason, might not welcome the fact that Merseyside has witnessed an unprecedented explosion in the number of foreign nationals moving to the region to work.

But that would be to ignore the tremendous contribution that this influx of migrant workers makes to the economy of the area.

The growth ties in with the admission of Eastern Bloc countries to the European Union as a result of the single European labour market, making it easier for workers from countries such as Poland to work in the UK.

As well as helping to meet demand in such trades as agriculture and construction, they are also helping with Merseyside’s overall regeneration.

It is also a tribute to the attractiveness of the region and its booming economy that, after several years of steady growth in the number of migrants working in the region, the figure shot up 39% last year. Experts believe a combination of Liverpool’s growing global profile, coupled with a sudden rise in jobs in sectors such as construction, has helped make Merseyside a major draw.

The rate of growth of foreign nationals – measured by National Insurance registration – in Greater Merseyside eclipses most other areas of the country, including more traditional areas of migration such as Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.

It means that, in March 2007, 32,000 overseas nationals were working in the Greater Merseyside region, up from 23,000, in March, 2006. In 2003, the figure was just 15,000.

However, this places a responsibility on employers and the Government to ensure that new arrivals are protected from rogue employers who may seek to exploit, for example, foreign workers’ lack of understanding of British working culture by paying cheaper wages.

Provided these necessary safeguards are in place, and that immigrant workers are employed legally, there is no reason why this influx of foreign labour should not be welcomed as making a significant contribution to the regional economy’s continued growth.