Migrant Construction Workers in the South East of England -Is their use on construction sites justified.

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Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

CONTENTSIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Purpose of the Research1

Aim2

Objectives3

Key Questions3

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW4

Theoretical Foundations4

Trans-nationalism, Globalization, and Diaspora Theories4

Immigration Theories7

Psychological Theories12

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY17

Research Method17

Research Design18

Suitability of Data for Your Project22

Authentication and Credibility22

Quantitative Data24

REFERENCES25

Chapter 1: Introduction

Purpose of the Research

The United Kingdom, especially the South East of England for many years has seen a large exodus of migrant workers from not only Europe but the rest of the world. This issue of migrant workers has been further heightened by the enlargement of the European Union on the 31st of May 2004. According to Anderson and Rogaly (2005), the UK construction sector employs over 2 million people and is expected to rise by 2.8 million by 2011 and mostly concentrated in the South East and accounts for 6% of GDP. Despite this, the industry still faces acute shortages of labour and skills, brought about by the fact that, according to Wells, J. (1996) 'work in construction is not highly regarded and tends to be shunned by local worker'.

Be that as it may, the UK economic recession has negatively affected the Construction industry which in turn has reduced the number of migrant workers coming into the UK. According to Polish Migrants UK (2010), “the numbers of new polish immigrants coming into the UK has slowed down. Figures from the Polish Embassy show that in 2007 the number of Poles coming to this country was over 150,000, the following year that number had fallen to just under 100,000.”Despite the reduction of migrants coming into the UK since 2007, they are still filling the labor and skills gap.

The subject of this proposal emanates from the interest in a decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Tasci v Pekalp, concerning a Kurdish refugee who apparently over exaggerated his work experience as a carpenter in order to obtain employment in the UK and consequently seriously injuring his hand after three weeks working with a circular saw Ryan,B.(2005) states that “The court set out in the following terms what it took to be the duty of an employer to provide adequate training in such a case”:

“Here [the] applicant was a refugee from a remote part of Eastern Europe. Any prudent employer would have recognized the high probability that he could put little or no reliance upon any representations made by the applicant for work as to his previous experience and training, on the basis that a person seeking refugee status would be prepared to say almost anything in the ...