UK Policy Archives

Press Release - Friday 31 March 2006

JCWI response to Ippr report on irregular migration

Habib Rahman, Chief Executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants said:

"The Government has said it wants a managed migration policy. Part of a serious managed migration policy is about managing the migrant worker population already here, some of whom may be highly skilled and making a positive contribution to British society, but who are irregular.

"This IPPR report clearly highlights the economic benefits of permitting people to regularise their immigration status in the UK. JCWI believes there are also pressing social reasons for such a measure. As long as migrants' presence and contribution is not officially recognised, they are without rights and without a stake hold in British society. As events at Morecambe Bay have demonstrated all too tragically, this leaves them open to exploitation. It is also harmful to achieving equality for all those living in the UK, real social integration and full immigration governance and security.

"If the Government cannot see a way of regularising individuals' presence they should at least recognise the entitlement of this group to employment rights. The current situation whereby those who are irregular are presumed to have no rights whatsoever makes the Government's objectives on ending child poverty and gender equality completely untenable."