AUSTIN BIRKS Commercial Manager Go West Midlands Bus Company and Winner of the European Year of Workers’ Mobility Award 2006 and Winner of the European Year of Workers’ Mobility Award 2006

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY AN EMPLOYERS PERSPECTIVE ON EUROPEAN RECRUITMENT SINCE MAY 2004

In the Beginning…. MAY 2004 Welcome to the enlarged Europe: Welcome to the enlarged Europe: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary,Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia Warm welcome from UK, Ireland and Sweden who impose no restrictions on entry other than WRS in the UK Warm welcome from UK, Ireland and Sweden who impose no restrictions on entry other than WRS in the UK

EU Message on Migration Created the principles of partnership Created the principles of partnership Dignity and Equality Dignity and Equality Treat everyone the same and fairly Treat everyone the same and fairly Respect culture and change Respect culture and change Create a process of training and employment Create a process of training and employment

UK Recruitment UK unemployment lowest for 40 years UK unemployment lowest for 40 years A typical British Company in May 2003 A typical British Company in May 2003 The reality: a shortage of 800 drivers The reality: a shortage of 800 drivers My job was to find 800 drivers….fast My job was to find 800 drivers….fast

The Perception of Migrants is… They will take our jobs They will take our jobs They will keep wage rates down They will keep wage rates down They will sponge off the state They will sponge off the state They will create more crime They will create more crime Mixed Reactions from public and employers Mixed Reactions from public and employers Negative press promised the ‘floodgates would open’ Negative press promised the ‘floodgates would open’

The Good

The Concept A tailored English language training programme A tailored English language training programme Relevant vocational bus driver training Relevant vocational bus driver training A process of induction for all A process of induction for all Making integration easy Making integration easy Accommodation, welcome packs WRS, NI, Health care, uniforms Accommodation, welcome packs WRS, NI, Health care, uniforms

New Polish Recruits May 2004

The Results Feb 2007 the company have employed over 1300 staff from eastern Europe Feb 2007 the company have employed over 1300 staff from eastern Europe Retention is around 90% Retention is around 90% Staff shortage and turnover greatly reduced Staff shortage and turnover greatly reduced Substantial Business savings Substantial Business savings Recognised by EURES and EU as best practice Recognised by EURES and EU as best practice

Winner of the European Workers’ Mobility Award 2006

The Bad…..

The Bad Side of Recruitment Deception Deception Exploitation Exploitation Mis-information Mis-information Unethical recruitment Unethical recruitment Low wages and poor conditions Low wages and poor conditions No language skills or provision No language skills or provision “Ministry warns Bulgarians and Romanians of difficulties in finding work” “Ministry warns Bulgarians and Romanians of difficulties in finding work”

And the Ugly…..

The Ugly Side of Recruitment Criminality Criminality Degradation Degradation Cynical exploitation Cynical exploitation Injury and death Injury and death Worst case Worst case Telegraph Blog - David Rennie Sept 2006 Telegraph Blog - David Rennie Sept 2006

The Stand Off

The Stand off Between…. Government Legislation Government Legislation EU Legislation EU Legislation Social and Moral Constraints Social and Moral ConstraintsAnd Business Expansion Business Expansion Commercial Enterprise Commercial Enterprise

Lessons for Bulgaria UK Employers have a positive attitude towards migrant workers UK Employers have a positive attitude towards migrant workers Planning and research are essential prior to recruitment Planning and research are essential prior to recruitment UK employers need to invest in migrants but the rewards are significant UK employers need to invest in migrants but the rewards are significant They do need to speak English or learn it on arrival They do need to speak English or learn it on arrival

Lessons for Employers Equality in pay and conditions reduces exploitation and resentment Equality in pay and conditions reduces exploitation and resentment Duty of care results in low staff turnover Duty of care results in low staff turnover Language training is a must not only for HSE but for customer confidence Language training is a must not only for HSE but for customer confidence A unified, competitive Europe is essential to compete globally A unified, competitive Europe is essential to compete globally

The Good triumphs…..

Institute of Directors Poll Poll of 500 members of IOD found: Poll of 500 members of IOD found: “Migrants were out performing indigenous employees by a large margin” “Migrants were out performing indigenous employees by a large margin” A lack of local skills was the key reason A lack of local skills was the key reason Only 16% employed migrants because they were cheaper Only 16% employed migrants because they were cheaper Better productivity, education, reliability, skills, work ethic and less sickness Better productivity, education, reliability, skills, work ethic and less sickness

Positive Benefits of Migration CBI quote “enlargement has brought between 10 to 12 billion to the UK economy” CBI quote “enlargement has brought between 10 to 12 billion to the UK economy” Unemployment remains low as vacancies have been filled Unemployment remains low as vacancies have been filled Business leaders quote a positive work ethic Business leaders quote a positive work ethic “Harder working and more reliable” “Harder working and more reliable”

The End