24th January 2012
All the latest stories from the world of work
A report by Mitigation Watch commented on the ‘remarkable coincidence’ between the significant rise in youth unemployment and the increase of immigration from Eastern Europe. Only 24 hours later, the National Institute of Economic Research (NISER) argue unemployment figures are not influenced by immigration.
Mitigation Watch an organisation campaigning for lower levels of immigration to the UK, claims British job seekers are competing with a larger population and want the Government to create tighter controls on immigration law. Since 2004, when countries such as Poland and Hungary joined the EU, the UK has seen an influx of approximately 600,000 people from Eastern Europe. During this same time period youth unemployment rose to 450,000. Sir Andrew Green, director of Migration Watch believes there is a strong correlation between the two "we can't prove that statistically, but nor can you disprove it statistically”.
However NISER argues immigration has had little or no impact on high rising unemployment. The NISER analysed the numbers of migrants who had provided their National Insurance number with figures of those claiming unemployment benefits. The NISER found “a very small negative and generally insignificant correlation”. NISER did find immigration had a small impact on less skilled jobs in Britain.
The debate continued when research from the Government’s Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) suggested an “accosscation” between unemployment and immigration. The MAC reported for every 100 non-EU migrant workers there will be reduction in employment for 23 native workers.
Immigration Minister Damian Green commented: "this Government is working to reduce net migration... of thousands a year we saw under the last Government... uncontrolled immigration can put pressure on public services, on infrastructure and on community relations. This report makes clear that it can also put pressure on the local labour market."
Trade Union Congress (TUC) found British workers contributed an additional 2 million hours of unpaid overtime last year. These additional hours could create one million full time positions.
A total of 1,968 hours of unpaid overtime was worked last year which is equivalent to 29.2 billion for the UK economy. The TUC stated “workers who regularly put in unpaid overtime worked all their hours from the start of the year, the first day they would get paid would be Friday 24 February” as a result TUC named this day Work Your Hour Proper Hours Day (WYPHD). This day highlights the additional unpaid hours worked in the UK. However, the TUC are concerned about the impact working long hours is having on employees’ health, and that unpaid overtime is preventing the creation of additional roles.
London and the South East were found to be the most likely to work additional unpaid hours. With 26.9 per cent in London and 25 per cent in the South East compared to only 3 per cent in the West Midlands and 2.2 per cent in the North East. Since 1992 the number of workers completing unpaid overtime has increased by more than million.
Transport for London (TFL) are predicting an additional three million journeys per day during the Olympic Games. However BT’s Race to the Line Survey found 29 per cent of organisations have not made plans to help their staff continue working during this disruption.
BT’s survey found 40 per cent of organisations are expecting disruptions, such as staff absences. With employees experiencing difficulty travelling into work and requesting annual leave to watch the Games. The survey, which included 1,200 businesses, found that plans made to cope with the disruption included recruiting temporary staff and developing flexible working policies.
Steve Wheeler, Local Business Director for London BT Business, stressed the importance of businesses to consider the stress placed on transport systems and the impact this will have on their employees. He summarises the situation by stating "I experience the snow every year. In London, we grind to a halt. How many of you can get in when it snows? Everything stops for two days. This is going to be like snow for eight weeks."
In the summer of 2011 the transport minister, Norman Baker, asked businesses and employees to start planning how they were going to travel to work during the London Olympics. Commuters have been asked to walk, cycle or work from home.
