Keith Best sets out policies to improve the Issue of Migrants
By Raza Mumtaz 'Pakistan Times' Executive Editor/UK Bureau Chief

LONDON (UK): Migrant workers are essential to our economy yet the rules are complicated and they need to be removed from criminal association in the mind of the public

Discussing issues at a conference “Integration of Migrants: Engaging Employers, Unions and the Voluntary Sector” in London today, addressed by Home Office Minister Joan Ryan MP, T&G Deputy General Secretary Jack Dromey, Chair of the CRE Trevor Phillips and others, IAS Chief Executive Keith Best set out three policies for migrant workers.

“There is a need for regularisation for migrant workers who are making a contribution to the economy but, for whatever reason, are not entitled to work under the complicated existing rules.

This should be done at the same time as proper identity checks on arrivals and departures are available with the roll-out of the Government’s E-borders in a year’s time” he said.

“This would be seen to be a one-off exercise to bring certainty to the question of how many illegal workers are in the UK. Leave to remain should be granted only to those who are in work which is sustainable, making a contribution to the economy and who have not been involved in criminal activity.

The beneficial effect of up to 500,000 workers becoming legal and paying taxes is enormous and could result in an increase of more than £1 billion to the Treasury.”

“Secondly, we need to give migrant workers a fiscal advantage in sending remittances home which so much help developing countries and now exceed official development aid. If remittances are paid through an employer deduction scheme and sent to the country of origin then the workers should be able to do this gross without deduction of tax.

“Finally, it is unhelpful to have migration mixed up in the same Government Department (Home Office) which deals with offenders and security issues.

It sends the wrong message that migrant workers are associated with criminality when they are legitimate and needed for the UK economy. It is too easy for the Home Secretary to lump them all together.

The Immigration & Nationality Department should be split off from the Home Office and set up as a separate executive agency.”●