by Diflower » 13 Aug 2013, 17:37
One of my step brothers-in-law is Polish. He's a lovely, lovely man, has been here a long time (nearly 20 years), is a chef and has never been homeless or otherwise had it rough here.
Obviously he knows quite a lot of other Poles. The ones being targeted by the vans are obviously not just Poles but probably in a similar situation. Most aren't actually homeless, but they're having a horrible time; mostly they work long shifts and live in places most of us would consider uninhabitable. Several beds to a room, but never as many as there are people.
Shiftworkers need them at different times, they're sharing a bed between 3, rotating usage. They work long, long hours in terrible jobs for very little pay, and what they do earn they send home - they never have time to spend any anyway.
It's extremely worrying that companies like Next are apparently importing labour, obviously offering long hours and short pay. The 99p shop has an advert in the window for staff. Full-time only, 6 days, 48 hours a week, minimum hourly wage; there are English people working there but it's no surprise the majority of the staff are foreign. Compared to the farm and other workers it's luxury.
I think a lot who have come here legally would probably welcome the chance to go home too.