A committee of peers chaired by Lord Grenfell has said that the expansion of the European Union in 2004, that saw 10 eastern European countries join the EU, has boosted the UK economy. The UK’s ‘open door’ policy on immigration from these countries has put it in a strong position to cope with growing globalization.
The policy has lead to an influx of a skilled, low-cost workforce that enables the UK to compete with emerging low cost labour markets.
The arrival of cheap labour from within Europe and from outside of it, is certainly something the UK meetings and events industry has benefited from. Many of our venues employ a healthy variety of individuals from many different countries.
Whilst this approach is good for both business and the immigrants in the short term, it may have a negative affect in the longer term. The flow of immigrants cannot continue indefinitely, and those that are here already, will not work long hours for low wages forever. At some point we could find the cheap labour we have become so reliant on is no longer so cheap or in such abundance, with the knock on affect being that we are no longer so competitive.
What should we be doing to make sure we don’t take advantage of our immigrant workers and to ensure we build a mutually beneficial working environment so they don’t go elsewhere?
Jane Evans
Chief Executive, MIA
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In addittion to the obvious welfare, and in some more extreme cases, human rights issues, I believe that the influx of migrant workers to the hospitality industry provides us with another challenge; that of long term promotion of the industry as a career. We have spent the last 30 years trying to promote the hospitality industry as one which provides good long term prospects and career opportunities, but equally one in which you need to 'start at the bottom' and develop your skills at all levels. My concern would be that these junior positions may no longer be seen as stepping stones to a wider career if they are just filled by migrant workers, and equally will they be given the same long term career opportunities in the future?
Robert Wright - Davies Tanner
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