The ups and downs of being 'different'

Published on 7th December 2006 in News

Unless you've been living in a blacked-out bubble for the last few months, your ears will have picked up foreign voices in the streets, seen notices in different languages on the doors of employment agencies and spotted a bookshelf in Goole library marked 'foreign fiction.'

Since eight new countries joined the European Union in May 2004 and gained access to the UK's labour market, thousands of migrant workers have come to England to work - and many have chosen Goole.

Research by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council shows that nearly 1,500 National Insurance numbers were issued to overseas nationals living in the East Riding between 2005 and 2006, compared to slightly more than 300 two years ago.

The difficulty in giving an exact figure lies in the fact that migrant workers are not legally required to apply for a National Insurance number before looking for work, although employers are required to ensure their workers apply for one as soon as possible. Some migrant workers also come here on a temporary basis.

Adil Kahn, racial diversity officer with Humberside Police, estimates the number in Goole fluctuates between 500 and 2,000, according to the season.

Perhaps more important than the statistics, however, are the stories behind them.

The Goole Times has been speaking to migrant workers about what it's like to leave behind everything familiar and adapt to life in a different country.

For Anna, Magda and Gosia, all from Poland, the transition appears to have been relatively smooth.

"I'm very happy about English people, everyone is very nice," said Gosia.

"The first time I came to England, I lived in a village. In a village, people are very nice and helpful. I could ask them anything," said Magda.

Magda's husband, arriving six months earlier, also had plenty of support from his workmates.

But adjusting to a new culture is still difficult.

"Life in England is completely different - doctors, insurance, the health service - they're all completely different," said Magda, who teaches English.

"It was difficult for him [my husband]."

And while these women found friendliness, not everyone is as helpful or understanding, particularly when it comes to finding work.

"Employers often use people as they don't know they have to be paid the minimum wage without deductions," Magda told us.

"I know of people who work on a farm and live in a caravan.

"They should have £5.35 an hour but after deductions for caravans and other things, for one hour they get £2 or something like that."

Magda does not believe they are paid more for the overtime they work, which sometimes means a 15-hour day, or that they receive holiday pay.

And Anna added: "They work for many hours but it can be they just work for a few hours and they cannot pay the rent.

"Their income is so low they do not feel like real humans. They feel reduced, depressed."

Poor English, and a fear of losing their jobs, however measly the pay, stops them from complaining.

Accommodation can throw up more problems, particularly if migrant workers don't have friends or family to help out.

"Sometimes they [migrant workers] find accommodation with people who rent houses but sometimes they [the landlords] are not really honest because when they move in, they have to pay more after two months. That's not honest - it should be the same amount," said Magda.

And living conditions are far from ideal - Magda reports that some families live in one room, sometimes unpleasant rooms, and others do not receive their deposit back because the landlord claims it has been left in poor condition.

But Magda says: "Polish people are very clean. Sometimes there's more damage when they come in than when they come out."

Again, a lack of English accounts for many of these problems - and makes practical tasks like opening a bank account, registering with a doctor and finding a school for their children extremely difficult.

Anna has even come across a student who had badly burned her hand but did not want to go to hospital. "Because of her fear of losing her job if she didn't go to work, she didn't go to see anyone.

"It's a big step for them to go to the doctor - even if they know some words, they need someone who can help them."

Loneliness can also make life miserable. "Sometimes women stay at home alone for a week and they feel alone," Magda said.

"Mothers don't know where a playgroup is, for example. Sometimes this makes them feel very lonely. I think there are a lot of mothers who want to meet other people."

Last but not least, migrant workers occasionally have to deal with hostility from some people in the community, who feel they are taking their jobs and committing crimes. While Magda and Anna are at pains to stress they received lots of help, isolated incidents of racism, from physical attacks to cold shoulders have been reported.

"Not all people are helpful and open to strangers," Magda said.

"I have friends who have neighbours who have children. They don't say hello - they show their back and they don't want to have any contact with them. It's very difficult for them.

"When you move to a different town, you feel that you are worse than the English people. But it's natural you don't know things.

"People have good and bad experiences and they don't trust others because of their experiences."

In response to the challenges faced by migrant workers, a group has been set up to make them feel welcome and to bridge the culture gap within the community.

Helping Hands, chaired by Peter Moran and based at the Central Methodist Church in Goole, aims to help migrants get in touch with support groups, build up their confidence and practice their English in a social setting.

"We want to welcome and celebrate diversity - differences shouldn't be seen as something bad," said Mr Moran. "It's about allaying and preventing misunderstandings.

"Facts about migrants do get distorted - yet figures show that migrants are net contributors to the economy and not a drain on resources.

"If the migrants are coming to Goole, then let's welcome them. After all, Goole's a port - it has a history of interchanging people."

Helping Hands runs a 'Signpost Centre' every Thursday in the Methodist Church between 2pm and 6pm to point migrant workers in the direction of relevant support groups.