TUC goes to Poland

October 18 2006 - A TUC delegation is heading for Poland to advise prospective migrant workers on British employment law and union membership before they set off for the UK.

TUC Regional Secretary Nigel Costley and unionlearn press officer Wanda Wyporska will attend a two-day British Days Jobfair in Warsaw run by Jobcentre Plus as part of the European Year of Workers' Mobility. Thirty major UK employers will also be represented, including Tesco, First Group, and the Jurys Doyle and Macdonald hotel groups. Over 10,000 job seekers are expected to attend the Jobfair.

Nigel Costley and Wanda Wyporska intend to advise Polish job seekers on surviving work in the UK, and talk about getting the best from prospective Polish employees. They will also hand out leaflets in Polish about the minimum wage, working time and joining a union.

Wanda Wyporska said:

"London, the East of England and the South East faces a particular problem with rogue employers and I am glad to be able to use my language skills to tell Polish workers how they can seek work confidently, safe in the knowledge that they are aware of their rights and know where to turn if things go wrong. We also want them to know that the best protection they can have against unscrupulous bosses is to join a trade union the moment they get here."

According to TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber:

"It's vital that Poles and other migrant workers know their rights before they come to work in the UK. Otherwise they risk becoming sitting ducks for employers who delight in making money out of exploiting vulnerable workers.

"Hopefully the trip to Poland will help prevent more of the horror stories we sadly hear so much about, of workers being mistreated, paid illegal wages, made to work excessive hours, and having extortionate deductions made from their wages for the privilege of living in squalid accommodation.

"The TUC wants Polish workers to know how they can seek work confidently, safe in the knowledge that they are aware of their rights and know where to turn if things go wrong. We also want them to know that the best protection they can have against unscrupulous bosses is to join a trade union the moment they get here."

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