'Deportation reward’ for illegal workers

Press, 28 January 1988, Page 14

'Deportation reward’ for illegal workers

NZPA-Reuter , London Illegal immigrants make a strong contribution to Britain’s economy but their only rewards are deportation orders, according to a union-spon-sored report. The report, “Undocumented Lives,” said the immigrants, who worked long hours in unpleasant and badly-paid jobs, were largely unprotected and were one of the most exploited and vulnerable

sectors of the labour force. It said the Home Office, immigration service and police were stepping up co-operation to find and deport employees without proper work permits, and planned legislation would introduce even tighter controls. The Home Office said 1582 illegal employees had been detected in Britain last year. Illegal immigrants work

an average of 55 hours a week and are often used as cheap labour by hotels, clothing companies and cleaning firms, according to the report, which was published in London. The authors recommended a system of "regularisation”, granting workers from Third World nations similar rights to those enjoyed by their colleagues from European Community countries.