Migrant workers are 'key to success'

10:38am Monday 31st March 2008

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THE successes of the North West economy are down mainly to the influx of migrant workers, claim South Cheshire business experts.

The flood of thousands of mainly Polish workers into Crewe since the country joined the EU has had a real impact on the area's financial standing.

Skills shortages and a poor work ethic amongst Northwest workers are highlighted as some of the main factors influencing businesses to recruit from overseas, according to the latest survey from Chambers of Commerce North West.

The survey revealed that the employment of migrant workers has had a positive effect on the Northwest economy with a number of respondents reporting that they would have been unable to meet customer orders or been unable to expand if it had not been for the supply of workers from abroad.

John Dunning, chief executive of South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "The comparative success of the North West economy in recent years has been largely due to the influx of willing migrant workers from Eastern Europe.

"Many of the employers who have responded to this survey have told us that they take on migrant workers due to a shortage of skilled workers in the North West and because their work ethic is much better than domestic workers.

"The vast majority of the jobs taken by migrant workers could have been filled by Northwest residents but until the Government gets to grip with the region's skills shortages and increasing welfare dependency culture, North West businesses will continue to employ migrant workers in large numbers.

"What is clear from the survey is that having a flexible labour market is crucial to the success of our local economy and we would not want to see unnecessary or unreasonable restrictions placed on workers from overseas."

The survey found that 30% or respondents employ or have employed migrant workers, while 40% said they recruited migrants due to a shortage of skilled candidates locally.

Around a third cited a lack of necessary experience amongst local workers as a factor in their decision to recruit from abroad; And those who recruited migrant workers reported that a better work ethic was a significant factor in their recruitment.