Focus on: Migrant workers
Worker skills
Migrant workers should be qualified to the same standards as the domestic workforce. ConstructionSkills can help to ensure that migrant workers are qualified, competent and safe.
Migrant workers will need to pass the Health & Safety Test and qualify for the for an appropriate skills card. They can use the same process as UK workers, including:
Employers may also be eligible to claim grant for training.
Good communication is essential to maintaining good health and safety standards on-site. There are a number of foreign language titles to help migrant workers to understand the key health and safety information they need.
Recruitment
If you employ workers from outside the UK, then you need to ensure they are eligible to work in the UK. Please see the Recruitment section for further details.
Staying Safe on Site
As an employer it is your legal obligation to ensure your workers remain safe on site. This is made more challenging when employing migrant workers. In addition to assessing the risk to your workforce in the normal way, you should also consider the differences in construction processes, culture, legislation and materials between countries, when assign work to migrant workers.
There are key steps that should help you steer round some of the potential challenges:
- Put your workers through the ConstructionSkills Health & Safety Test
- Make use of ConstructionSkills multi-lingual publications
- Put workers on additional health & safety course such as those run by National Construction College
- Undertake formal inductions
- Carry out Tool Box Talks on key safety issues
- Encourage migrant workers to attend ESOL classes
- Consider possible technical differences between the UK and the home country when briefing workers
- Think about translating key documents into relevant languages
- Consider using interpreters if you workers do not speak or understand English.
The Health Safety Executive (HSE) has a Migrant Worker microsite with content dedicated to employers s and is available in several languages. The HSE also provides guidance on Health & Safety legislation and best practice through their website or helpline 0845 345 0055. There are many publications available in many languages . You can also access a telephone interpreting service by calling the helpline and stating which language you wish to speak.
The TUC also offers health & safety information on Worksmart. Further information regarding employing migrant workers is available in several languages.
Technical Information
Construction processes and materials differ between countries. You should consider this when assigning work to migrant workers. Ensure all workers are clear on what is expected of them. For example consider differences in:
- types of materials
- methods of application
- behaviour on site
- units of measurement.
Integration
Effective integration into the UK workforce also means effective integration into UK society. You may wish to help direct migrant workers to the following essential services:
The Migrant Gateway provides information, advice and guidance to people who are thinking of coming to work in the UK, or who are already living here, and for people who are working or employing migrants.