Should the government put a cap on migrant workers?

[0iD]

Immigration figures out today show nearly 600,000 migrant workers have come to the UK from the expanded EU.
Nintey-seven percent are registered in full-time work, and 93% are in the UK with no registered dependents.
So should the government put a cap on migrant workers?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5273356.stm

[directhex]

they just need to ensure that those who are here to work

1) become entitled to benefits (by paying NI) and
2) take the benefits they're entitled to

the last migrant worker boom (the irish) largely worked unofficially, leading to zero social support, and in the end major problems when illness & accidents hit

if they're contributing to the british economy properly, then they deserve those benefits, and if they're not contributing properly, then they shouldn't be working here at all

[Swafe]

In a word, yes.

[directhex]

In a word, yes.

on what basis exactly?

[SilentDeath]

I reallly dont see the problem with eu or extened eu imigrants. The uk has a population of 60million or so, 15k per year isnt going to be that noticable. How about a cap on non-eu immigrants which probably add upto a lot more? (your link only focuses on caps for new eu states for 2007)

[mike_w]

I pretty much agree with directhex - migrant workers contribute a lot to the economy, so as long as they are actually working, they benefit the economy and the country.

[0iD]

I reallly dont see the problem with eu or extened eu imigrants. The uk has a population of 60million or so, 15k per year isnt going to be that noticable. How about a cap on non-eu immigrants which probably add upto a lot more? (your link only focuses on caps for new eu states for 2007)

Valid point & Hex has hit the nail on the head for me too. Historically the UK has always been a melting point of nationalities & that's what adds to our identity. But those not prepared to work & contribute (and I class uk nationals in there as well) should not benefit from our our benefit system. It 'seems' that that is what draws so many migrants (eu & otherwise) to our shores.
I think well thought out, rational & sensible controls are called for, not a knee-jerk reaction.

[Swafe]

on what basis exactly?

On the basis of I say so

Not a problem with this multiculturalism lark, but sooner or later itll get to the point, there will be that many random people in our country from all around the world (Well the EU in this case, but the world with assylum seekers too) that our country will turn from British to 'Randompeopleish'... maybe itll be a long time until the day but if it keeps happening at the rate of 600'000 a year then the British people and heritidge will soon be a minority if a constant influx of workers are maintained, which I feel is a bad thing. Whether you feel this way or not, is your opinion.


Althought this is a totally different topic to why I said yes

I pretty much agree with directhex - migrant workers contribute a lot to the economy, so as long as they are actually working, they benefit the economy and the country.

What about if the majority decided not to, and lived off our benefits, would you then change your mind? Not that im insinuating they would .. well.. maybe

[JPreston]

....
What about if the majority decided not to, and lived off our benefits, would you then change your mind? Not that im insinuating they would .. well.. maybe

Good job that they are not actually entitled to claim benefits then isn't it? Unless by immigrant one means people born here but a bit...well...brown...

I could point out that skilled tradesman coming into the UK and working for less money than the scamming cowboys we started with reduces inflation by the equivalent of 0.5% on interest rates, or that immigrants make up 8% of the workforce but are repsonsible for 10% of GDP, or that overall they pay a higher percentage of their earnings in taxes than natives, or that they are less likely to seek treatment on the NHS, or that without them the NHS could not function at all, or that without them we would pay much more in taxation to cover the increased cost of public services...

...but why let facts get in the way of a good headline. What I really want to know is, what does Alex Berry have to say on the subject?

[Swafe]

Good job that they are not actually entitled to claim benefits then isn't it? Unless by immigrant one means people born here but a bit...well...brown...

If you read the entirity of my post, the general gyst was that as more come in (note I put, not just immigrants but assylum seekers too) it is reducing the bristish to a minority, although not all get it, assylum seekers do get benefits, such as housing benefits especially in the first 6 months, when they are not allowed to work.


Also whats the reasoning behind

they are less likely to seek treatment on the NHS

Although they may not have full knowledge of what the NHS offers, surely they get Ill just like the rest of us?

[Flibb]

I think they get full state benefits after a year, including housing and income support. That was on the news so cant guarantee its correctness.

[5cupa]

i think this country should close its gates completely and sort out its housing, hospitals services & infrastructure before letting anyone else in.

[JPreston]

If you read the entirity of my post, the general gyst was that as more come in (note I put, not just immigrants but assylum seekers too) it is reducing the bristish to a minority, although not all get it, assylum seekers do get benefits, such as housing benefits especially in the first 6 months, when they are not allowed to work.

...

Although they may not have full knowledge of what the NHS offers, surely they get Ill just like the rest of us?

1) In fact, native British people are not a minority.

2) Asylum seekers and immigrants are two completely different groups as well you know.

3) It's not that they lack knowledge of what the NHS offers - in fact a great number of them will work in the NHS - it's that on average they are younger and healthier than the average native and hence require less treatment. Also, consider the fact that not only are they net contributors to both the economy and the treasury but that they contribute more than the average Brit (because they are almost certain to be working). So even if they consumed as much treatment per head as the average Brit - which they don't, remember - they would still not only be paying their own way but also subsidising a British granny somewhere to boot.

[JPreston]

i think this country should close its gates completely and sort out its housing, hospitals services & infrastructure before letting anyone else in.

That's a facile statement when you consider that the construction industry, NHS and public services all depend on huge amounts of skilled immigrant workers, and could not function without them.

[directhex]

it is reducing the bristish to a minority

87.5% of the british population in the last census described themselves as "white british"

only Newham and Brent, in London, have more non-whites than whites

[frumpet]

I voted no.

Migrant workers are important for the economy and future of this country so there should definitely not be a cap on the number entering. Why should we deter any worker who is willing to contribute to the growth and wealth of this state? This gain not only through taxes such as Income Tax or NI on wages but though VAT and the trickle down effect of wages through the economy.

As mentioned earlier, it is very easy to bring illegal immigrants into this argument. This is a problem but not related to this question. Illegal immigrants are not officially counted in that 600,000 and would still be entering this country regardless of a cap on migrant workers or not.

It is also important to remember that the benefit system is another problem unrelated to migrant workers that needs overhauling. Currently it is too open to abuse by anyone, migrant or 'born and bred British'. This is not a fault of the migrant workers so a cap would not deal with current benefit fraud but simply deflect the blame.

Think of where the USA would be without migrant workers....