Immigrants 'need more help'
The report criticises the UK for not helping immigrants into British society
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Monday, 15, Oct 2007 09:59
The UK fails to put enough effort into helping immigrants integrate into British society, according to a new study.
A report by the British Council and Migration Policy Group argues that, compared to other members of the European Union, Britain is failing in terms of helping migrants to acquire employment as well as keeping families reunited during the at-times traumatic arrivals process.
While the migrant policy index praised the UK's record for allowing immigrants to stay in the country, it claimed insufficient groundwork had been done to prepare for rising migration within Europe.
"This old country of immigration has seen new unprecedented waves of labour migration in the past few years," the report reads. "Larger numbers than predicted arrived from the new EU member states after their accession in May 2004, with inadequate preparation for their integration."
Of the 25 EU members and three non-EU states surveyed, the UK was ranked 15th in terms of political participation, with the report noting that neither "migrants [nor] their associations are structurally consulted by government at any level".
More needs to be done to help migrants gain employment, the report adds, stating: "Although the state helps them to get their skills and qualifications recognised it does not set national policy targets to further integration or allow migrants equal access to training and study grants."
The UK finished ninth overall in the study, below Sweden, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Canada, Italy and Norway.
France finished in 12th position, while Germany was 14th.