Stop the exploitation of Polish workers in the UK

Its time the country or government puts a stop to the exploitation of hard working Polish workers who are getting treated like shit by recruitment agencies across the country here are examples. Managers enter workers accomodation without permission.Workers being dismissed without explanation or hearing.Woman suspended without pay after informing she was pregnant.Being denied going home for xmas then being laid off for the week without pay.Unexplained deductions from wages being charged for uniform when free.Having accomodation fees deducted from hourly rate which means that the more hours they work the more they pay for housing.This exploitation is affecting British workers to as EU workers being forced to work 60 hour weeks is stopping Brits getting extra hours to.SO THE EXPLOITATION MUST STOP NOW!!!!!!!

Let Polish workers stay at their own country - that would solve the problem.

As I mentioned in my previous post, GB is part of EU, and person from those countries is entitled to work in GB....its really a issue for the government to solve.

I might add if you had proper trade unions this would not occur and secondly the problem of employers seeking out cheap labour goes on in all westen countries, which effectively mean that local workers are competing with persons who are prepared to work for less.

As a matter of interest how do companies in Poland view employing people from other countries and do they favour locals?

I think companies in Poland are no different than in the UK or other EU countries - they don't care much about the nationality - they care about the money, so if they can hire a foreign worker who will do the same job well for less than a local, they will happily do so. Another thing is - the Polish locals themselves. I think they are as much antagonistic (or even more) towards foreign workers (especially from Vietnam or countries of the former Russia) as other people who feel "jobs are taken away from them because of the foreigners". It's the jungle law - and who says otherwise does not mean to tell the truth.

Sadly I tend to agree, a lot of times it is the local polish business man who employs poles as cheap labour, as use of cheap labour by reputable companies doesn't exist. I know some of my friends are employed by jewish people and are paid little and a lot is demanded. It goes back to supply and demand.

The point that people who work in a host country and return to there birth place don't really contribute to that country is probally true.. and if a country has a unemployment problem, why would you open the gates and let everyone in and take the jobs that could be filled by the locals.

It is only Britain,Ireland and Sweden that allows this.I agree it is the government that caused this problem and can solve it.Regarding exploitation there are some good reputable agencies which recruit mostly eastern Europeans.

it is not only those countries. every EU country has opened its market or is in the process of doing so.. and all of this job hopping will pass, trust me. when the whole market is open, people will get payed the same everywhere at some point.

and then all the cheap labour will probably go to africa, china and india.

too many people on this globe really. hate it or leave it. lol

na zdrowie!

Explotation works both ways on the lower end of the scale. Its not just polish workers who are being exploited but also the british. The problem is down to individual companies that are getting rid off british workers because it is cheaper to exploite polish workers. This has happened to me personally well payed job gone, company relocation, employment of polish workers new terms and conditions. Longer hours, no union representation,no bonus,no rights, etc etc etc. I'm afraid that this is the sign of the times, alot of working class Brits no longer have any faith in the goverment and its lapsidasical attituded to workers rights. If any brits say that they do they either have not been effected by this problem or they are wearing rose tinted specs.

Yes well i agree exploitation works both ways and a lot of us brits get treated poorly but the only way this will stop is if people do something about it. People whatever there nationality must join a trade union i have. Get unions powerfull again so that companies all over europe no longer have power over employees the balance of power shifts the other way.

I agree with what your saying gavin but I don't think unions will ever regain there power. I have been in britains biggest union for the past 15 years and i have seen many changes. My eyes have also been opened to how powerless the unions have become due to change in various employment legistrations and laws. Unfortunetly corruption also exists at the lowest and highest levels i can not go into this for legal reasons.

I am an EX- SHOP STEWARD.

The message is clear here to british nationals either start your own business and exploit the immigrant workers yourself or let some greedy local recruitment company do it for you.

The influx of cheap workers has created many opportunities for us as we now have the man power to turn ideas into profitable businesses.

Tony blair has done nothing to help young aspiring entreprenuers. Young business minded people now have a chance thanks to the influx of cheap labour. I am not advocating exploitation, theese people are human beings however it's a win / win situation, you pay them well and they will work hard, polish people always do.

I personally started a business with polish workers and the agreement was that for the first 3 weeks I could only barely pay them. I had to take this route because the so called princes trust wouldn't help me as they said i wasn't "under privelaged"

The company has now flourished and the lowest paid worker earns £300 per week takehome, one of them even has a share in the company, he is looking to expand the business into Poland itself.

you'll be saying bring back Scargill next!

How long have students been exploited?????

There is an influx of labour to the UK at the moment and good old human nature is at it's worst....and lets face it if more people are allowing such things, the easier it is for an employer to say well if you dont like it you know where the door is!

I was just highlighting a point shelly, and as for scargill he was a t**t . I was also a student for seven years.And i never felt exploited because i got off my fat ass and worked whilst being the uni's pisshead and drug tester.Best years of my life so stop moaning shelly and demist your rose tinted specs.:)

Don`t worry - our government is going to create its branch in the UK and it will defend our workers rights.

brpo.gov.pl/index.php?md=1678&s=1

I wasnt moaning, I certainly dont have rose tinted specs on either my friend


I bet you were popular at uni! Rock n Roll


Oh right is that because our Lefti gov is going to let them???

I don`t know if your governent has anything to say about that.

Oh right - Im not fully aware of the situation so I'm unable to put any real form of argument forward - I'll get back to you on this one.

Well, the workers are going to be given free legal advice and all kind of help and there are going to be people on the ground who will make your local governments more sensible for our peoples needs. This isn`t going to be that way only in the UK, but also in whole Europe, but the UK will come first.

why the UK I have heard that polish people are treated badly in - lets say - Italy or Germany?

Forcing such matters will cause many problems - I don’t feel threatened by Polish people - I have a good career but there are those that do and things like this will I can only surmise on this, will cause some problems.

I know - but to each problem there`s always a solution.

the solution is not always a pleasant one though!

We`re going to see how it`s going to develope.

Can the polish vote yet? If you pay taxes you can vote in your big buddy tony in again...

But i'm not angry or even hate the polish its just that we are a very small island wich is getting very overcrowded. Britain does not have the infastructure to support this massive influx of people,whens it going to end when the island sinks into the sea?

The polish have many good atributes you are very hard workers, you have good and bad points just like us. I also have respect for you because my granddad fought along side the polish in the R.A.F in WW2. He has allways sung the praises of the polish. The only problem is now alot of Brits feel like Britains been invaded, i really hope we do unite.Perhaps all this is happing for a reason only time will tell.

the Polish are in the EU they come to the UK work hard pay taxes - they are helping fill the coffers which improve our infrastructure - whereas - the illegals in this country just do it harm - we need tighter laws to keep these people out and stop the UK being a dumping ground for any country that has a civil war - I'm past caring about people from war torn countries - I want to live in a safe country

Your useless government is 2 years too late.Local UK councils and trade unions are already doing this (some have been doing this for 2 years).Many already provide translation services,Polish language housing/registration advice.


One problem Shelley is that after 1 year they are entitled to Tax Credits.This means a Polish worker on minimum wage does not actually pay taxes(they get it back as tax credits) and those on low wages with children are receiving both tax credits and free education and other services.

But they don`t seem to do that very well, since there are many people who complain about the way they are being treated in the UK.

The number of immigrants who are living in the UK is most likely to remain at 400-450K level - becouse some people are comming to the UK, while some are comming back to Poland - and I think that this number is going to decrease gradually over the next 7 years.

You`ve forgot to mention the pentions to which they are entitled after the`ve came back here.

To cheer you up I can add that in many cases, when those people are living in the UK, they also often avoid paying taxes as well as reprting their incomes here - which had changed not long ago, cose now our financial institutions are allowed to verify personal bank accounts in the UK.

(wherby - I don`t want to say that our taxes are particulary fair)

The Polish taxpayers had also had to pay for the education of all of those immigrants.

So - you see that this also creates huge costs for our taxpayers - and it is both in our as well as in your interest to stop this situation from continuing any further.

Most of the Polish people coming are students on a year break to learn the language and to earn some money to go back to Uni with (please dont say they're not contributing to the econoemy - of course they are tax , NI housing, shopping etc) very few will actaully settle here - after all home is where the heart is.

Another point I'd like to make is, young Polish people have a good degree of education and have a far better understanding of polotics than the average 21 year old in this country - I could almost bet my year salary that if you asked 100 people aged 16 - 25 who was the leader of our country half of them wouldnt know! - I'd rather have someone vote who has an understanding of how a european country should be run rather than and Enlish person who doesnt even know who will be running the country - sorry true brit but whilst I have a problem with certain people entering my country I welcom the Polish with open arms!

Yes there are students but surely you must be aware of the many Polish workers who are not students and have lower paid jobs.Like you I do not have a problem with the Polish but sometimes the tax/benefits system means things do not work out as expected.