A very interesting point was raised on the Mathew Wright Show today

[Bobbisox]

Are foreign workers really taking our jobs?
or as a Nation, are we too lazy?
Who really is to blame?
The company's for exploiting foreign workers by paying them a lot less?
This is always an emotive topic so let me state here and now, I am not being a Racist bigot

[DrFilth]

imagine if there was a german answerbank site in the seveties

someone in germany may have asked // Are foreign workers really taking our jobs?
or as a Nation, are we too lazy?
Who really is to blame?

don't forget the lads who worked the sites in germany living in a hut on the building site.

[Bobbisox]

but not foe a pittance Dr Filth, they earned good money

[DrFilth]

good to us but sometimes low for german standards

[jackthehat]

Were there no German Builders who wanted work ?
Did the builders bring their money out of the country, I wonder ?

[Bobbisox]

thanks for the input!

[Bobbisox]

meaningful, trivia, fun
all the same to me

[jackthehat]

If it's all the same to you, Bobbi, why the petulant avatar change ?

[McMouse]

<<All of the financial 'details' are sorted out by the Wages Department and the workers themselves receive a pittance........but you'll be pleased to learn that there isn't a single law which has been broken. >>
If the wages department are netting down wages to recover transport and accommodation costs then these costs should be declared as "benefits in kind" and are taxable. If not they are in breach of PAYE regs and should be prosecuted.

[jackthehat]

Of course they were taxable and all monies were paid to HMRC but the point is that the employee was tied in to these costs and was *never* going to see a fraction of the money that they ought to have earned.

[Bobbisox]

petulant?
I do get a tad sick of being followed around by a certain few jth but now it has been noticed I will choose another?
back to the OP then.....

[McMouse]

jth....are these said workers complaining of exploitation? The net wage may be a 'pittance', but that's what many UK citizens endure after they've paid the bills for rent/mortgage, travel etc.

[Bobbisox]

a very good point you make McM

[jackthehat]

McMouse - We are talking taking home a wage *after* deductions in the region of £ 35 per week.
They are tied into these jobs because of the money they 'owe', their accommodation is tied to their job, etc.

[Bobbisox]

so? do you think British bosses are to blame for the exploitation here?
to the detriment of British workers?

[RATTER15]

I work as a Senior Carer, I work very hard for six days a week and on the seventh day and in my spare time I'm frequently doing work for various courses that i require for my work. I'm on fractionally above minimum wage. I could earn far far more money as a Pest Controller (of which I am qualified) and work fewer hours, I do this work because it is the work I love. So its not all about money.

I work with many foreign girls who generally speaking are very enthusiastic and hard working, the only reason we have foreign staff is because we cant get English staff and when we do get English staff they often just leave, sometimes before the end of their first shift and sometimes days or weeks later, we don't get this problem with the foreign staff.

[Bobbisox]

Because they are not work-shy RATTER

[Bobbisox]

I hate odd numbers...:o)