Citizens Advice calls for 'strategic' EU support

Citizens Advice in Northern Ireland has called for a more strategic approach from Europe having seen a big increase in the numbers of EU nationals seeking advice on employment and housing.

One third of enquiries received by Dungannon CAB over the last three months are employment related and many of these clients are migrant workers.

Evidence from Citizens Advice Bureaux shows that workers face problems such as:

• Low pay;
• Poor accommodation;
• Lack of awareness about their employment rights;
• Language barriers.

With new countries due to join the EU next year, CAB say there is likely to be even more movement of workers throughout the member states.

Derek Alcorn, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice said: “There are growing numbers of migrant workers permanently settling in Northern Ireland, the range of social issues faced by these workers and their families, is now wide spread across Northern Ireland.

"Statutory agencies have a duty of care to ensure that migrant workers and their families are protected under the law, and that new legislation reflects the growing movement of workers throughout member states.”

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