http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4158068.stm

Union campaign on migrant workers


There are concerns that migrant workers are being brought to Wales with the
promise of regular work which may not materialise.
The Transport and General Workers Union believe the problem has led to
people with little English finding themselves with no money and no home.

The union was approached by Polish people employed by the Llanelli firm CSA
Service Group.

A statement from the company said workers were treated ethically.

The Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) has launched a campaign by
writing to Welsh MPs and MEPs.

Andy Richards, senior regional industrial organiser, said: "We now intend to
publicise the case for these decent working people.

"We are campaigning for action by the European Parliament and UK Government
to close the loophole in the EC legislation."

One worker said they each paid £200 to the group and were bussed to Wales
with 70 Poles looking for jobs here.

She and her friends said their work was very sporadic. They paid rent to CSA
Service Group but after a period of not being offered work, they were asked
to leave the house.

'Notice period'

They said they had no money and no home and said they knew of others in a
similar situation. They believed there were too many Polish workers for the
number of jobs.

In a statement, CSA Service Group it was a major employer in Carmarthenshire
with more than 700 British and Polish staff.

It said there was demand for its workers although it was sometimes necessary
to move staff from one contract to another to ensure that they were
continuously employed.

The firm said that each Polish worker was given a return ticket "which
enables them to return to their own country at any time" and all contracts
and training were translated.

"We do not consider that any member of our staff is evicted, the
accommodation arranged by our company is whilst they are employed by us,"
added the statement.

"It is clearly stated in English and Polish in their contract that should
their employment cease with our company for whatever reason then they must
vacate the accommodation within the notice period."