Focus on: Migrant workers

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ConstructionSkills has a number of products and services that can be used to ensure that migrant workers are qualified, competent and safe.

Migrant workers should be qualified to the same standards as UK workers  - passing the Health and Safety Test, and qualifying for an appropriate skills card. They can use the same processes as UK workers, including SkillsDirect and On-Site Assessment and Training.

Good communication is essential to maintaining good health and safety standards on-site. There are a number of ConstructionSkills publications available in foreign languages to help you ensure that migrant workers can get the key health and safety information they need. There are also a number of courses to support migrant workers available through our National Construction College.

Construction processes, culture, legislation and materials may differ between countries. You should consider this when delegating work to migrant workers and ensure they are clear about what is expected of them.

 Migrant workers

Good communication is essential in any job. It’s even more important in construction, where health and safety is a major issue and needs to be managed effectively.

There are also some legal issues relating to language that you should be aware of as an employer – see the Recruitment section for further details.

Clear communication is particularly important in the following situations:

  1. At job interview – to check candidates have the appropriate construction skills. This is also your chance to check their level of understanding of the English language
  2. At induction, using the appropriate tools available
  3. At health and safety briefings
  4. When giving instructions about work
  5. When explaining risk assessments

The Migrant Gateway site 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 working with migrants. Visit www.migrantgateway.eu to find out more.

 

Support

Many local Further Education colleges can offer English language tuition tailored to the context of the construction industry. This can usually be delivered on either full or part-time basis to meet individual needs.

There are also a number of products available in foreign languages from ConstructionSkills:

Technical Information

Construction processes and materials differ between countries. You should consider this when delegating work to migrant workers and ensure they are clear on what is expected of them.

For example, consider:

  • Different types of materials – eg. where we may use fibreglass rather than wood, etc
  • Different methods of application – eg. steel frames may be used differently in the UK than in their home country
  • Differences in behaviour on site – eg. consider differences in health and safety practice and standards of acceptable behaviour on site
  • Differences between Metric and Imperial measures

You may also be able to get advice and support from Union Learning Representatives. Try the following organisations:

For construction specific information

 Social Services

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...