The Nature and Future of Migration Patterns from Eastern Europe to the United Kingdom

The International Organization for Migration reports that one out of thirty-five persons in the world is a migrant (1). Migration is not a new phenomenon. People migrate for many reasons but do so mainly as a relief from their current situation which may be corrupt politics, natural disasters, or a depressed economy. The process of immigration has had a significant impact on human history and the formation of nations, as it has helped many to find a better, more comfortable life - such as African Americans in the Great Migration. Technology and the ease of travel help individuals and families find new opportunities in foreign countries while still allowing them to have a connection with their home country. Immigrants become important factors in the social makeup and economies of the host countries. Migrants from Eastern European countries have become major contributors to the agricultural sector in the United Kingdom (UK), but as globalization continues and economies strengthen, these relationships may be in jeopardy.

Studies have been done and statistical data has been kept to determine the amount of immigrants travelling into the UK. The European Union (EU) afforded membership to eight Eastern European countries, also called the A-8, in May of 2004, which included Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia (Storey 1). The UK became a major destination for citizens of those countries where the economy was poor and unemployment was high. Blanchflower, Saleheen, and Shadforth report that countries with a lower GDP were more likely to immigrate to the UK (4). In Poland the unemployment rate in 2004 was nineteen percent followed by Lithuania at eleven point four percent (Blanchflower, Saleheen, and Shadforth 4). Once free movement amongst countries was in place, immigration to the UK significantly increased. These migrants came to the UK for financial reasons and easily found work in the food industry. As reported by Scott and Brindley, most immigrants travel to large cities and live within communities of the same cultural background (29). In the case of immigration to the UK, the food industry and seasonal agricultural labor in the country were more alluring. Migratory patterns have become increasingly circular factor of globalization, so a seasonal occupation that would allow the immigrant to migrate back to their own country and return to their family would be optimal (“Eighty-Sixth Session” 2). These jobs are typically labor intensive and involve picking or packing food products for very little pay. Migrants are willing to except these jobs because of the few opportunities in their countries, which is the major push factor. The strength of the UK currency in relation to their own is the pull factor that returns them to their home country when the season has ended (Scott and Brindley 31). Although the wages are low for most workers in the UK, when exchanged in another country the earnings are significant. Storey found that most workers native to the country would likely not want these jobs, so immigrants are filling important gaps in the workforce (8). One major goal of the EU is to bring these obvious needs together and allow immigrants easy access to member countries. Between 2004 and 2009, almost 900,000 Eastern-European workers had registered in the UK (Foti 34). This influx of immigrants creates a need for them in the agricultural sector that would be difficult to replace if migration slowed.

Migration to the UK from Eastern European countries can be considered short or long term migration. The United Nations defines a short-term immigrant as “a person who moves to a country other than that of his or her usual residence for a period of a least 3 months but less than a year (12 months)...” (“International migration” 1). Typically those that immigrate for short periods of time do so for education or short term work opportunities. Short-term migration could be seen as a salvation in difficult economic times. Short-term immigration can also be mutually beneficial for both the host and home country. In the UK, there are an estimated one million short-term migrants and of those there are 214,000 that stay for three to twelve months (Vargas-Silva 1). The short-term migrant is mutually beneficial, as the immigrants receive the education or financial stability necessary to be successful in their home countries, while the host country earns the educational income and can fill positions in the seasonal and short-term labor markets.

A long-term immigrant may be the most damaging to the home country, but beneficial to the host country. The United Nations defines this type of immigrant as, “A person who moves to a country other than that of his or her usual residence for a period of at least a year (12 months), so that the country of destination effectively becomes his or her new country of usual residence” (“International migration” 1). The UK had 566,000 long-term immigrants arrive in 2011 (Vargas-Silva 1). Long-term immigrants generally fill labor gaps in industries such as administration, business and management, hospitality and catering, agriculture, manufacturing and food, and fish and meat processing (“Accession Monitoring Report” 1). These types of skilled and unskilled workers are important to the economy of the host country by contributing to the economy through payment of taxes and sometimes cheaper labor. They also expand the diversity of the communities they reside in by exposing the locals to the cultures of their home countries. Storey gives the example of Herefordshire, England where many migrants have stayed long-term to work in soft fruit production. In Herefordshire, two Lithuanian sisters opened a food shop selling eastern European style food that became very popular amongst the locals (16).

The dark side of migration and diversity is that it can sometimes create exploitation and racism. An article written by Andrew Wasley for The Ecologist, reports that migrant workers are “treated like cattle” (1). His story focused on a young, Lithuanian immigrant named Irena who reported harsh working conditions and exploitation within the food production sector in the UK. She forced to work up to fourteen hours per day with only one half hour break and then was fired for no reason. She was paid minimum wage, £5.93 per hour (about $9.55), and was expected to pay for the room and board she was forced to live in (Wasley 1). Despite her experience, Irena continued to work in the industry because it was better than her financial situation in Lithuania. Other stories report up to seventeen hour shifts, beatings, intimidation by dog, having to sleep on mattresses infested with bugs, and being forced to work to repay debts (Muskat-Gorska 1). These types of complaints prompted the UK government to act and protect working immigrants. The Gangmaste Licensing Authority (GLA) was created to help workers with their rights and monitor all of the companies that provide labor to immigrants. Wasley reports that from 2010 to 2011, the GLA found eight hundred workers that had been exploited and prosecuted thirty-three companies (3). One of the largest egg and chicken providers in the UK, Noble Foods, had their license revoked due to poor treatment of migrant workers (Muskat-Gorska 1). Despite the measures that are being taken by the GLA, migrant workers continue to be treated poorly in the agricultural sector, which could at some point cause a revolt against production companies.

Irena’s sad situation is a dream for many Lithuanians attempting to migrate from their country for a better life. Lithuania ranks second to Poland for the most migrants travelling to the UK for agricultural work. There were an estimated 37,740 immigrants from Lithuania in 2010 (Scott and Brindley 30). Scott and Brindley report that Lithuania accounted for nine percent of the migration after the expansion of the EU (31). The unfortunate part is that they likely do not know of the true conditions, but are focused on financial independence and freedom from a depressed economy. Lithuanians have a long history of migration that includes the escape from the Tsarist regime in the late nineteenth century to Scotland, where many descendants still remain today (Rodgers 1). Migration is a very important part of Lithuanian culture due to many years of economic strife and constant battles for independence. Since independence, the country’s situation has improved, but is still plagued with unemployment and inflation. Migration between member states of the EU provide Lithuanians with employment opportunities while remaining tied to their home countries. There are the obvious disadvantages to migration to the UK, but it outweighs the migrant’s current situation.

There are still many migrants all over the world, but the numbers of them are decreasing. The economic downturn of many countries in the last few years has hurt migrant business sectors. Foti explains that if economic downturns in powerful countries continue, migrants will find work elsewhere (43). This becomes a major problem as farmers need the migrant workforce to keep up production. Dr. Carlos Vargas-Silva’s data states that immigration was down from 591,000 in 2010 to 566,000 in 2011 (1). There also has been a shift in migration patterns away from migrating for employment into migration for education. In 2011, forty-one percent of migrants came for study purposes while only thirty-two percent came for work reasons (Vargas-Silva 4). The amount of short-term migrants for education has increased. Those students do not stay as cheap laborers in the fields, but emigrate elsewhere for more prestigious work.

Education and improved financial situations in poorer countries threaten the employment migration patterns from Eastern Europe to the United Kingdom. New migration patterns from other countries could be created, but laws would have to follow which could be time consuming. The ebb and flow of migration will injure the agricultural sector in the UK, but perhaps it should serve as a reminder for how migrant workers are treated that will hopefully lead to a culturally accepting environment that promotes fairness. Further study into the trenches of food production and its migrant workers would prove beneficial to finding an amicable solution for all involved.

Works Cited

Blanchflower, David G., Jumana Saleheen, and Chris Shadforth. "The Impact of the Recent Migration from Eastern Europe on the UK Economy." The Institute for the Study of Labor, Feb. 2007. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.

"Eighty-Sixth Session." Proc. of Migration in a Globalized World. International Organization for Migration, 10 Nov. 2003. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.

Foti, Kiara. "Trends and Reasons for East-European Labour Migration to Ireland and the UK in the First Years of Enlargement." Revista De Economia Mundial 22 (2009): 27-50. June 2009. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.

Muskat-Gorska, Zuzanna. "Lithuanian Workers Trafficked and Beaten in the UK." International Trade Union Confederation. N.p., 18 Oct. 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2013.

Rodgers, Murdoch. "The Lithuanians." History Today. History Today, 1985. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.

Scott, Sam and Paul Brindley. "New Geographies of Migrant Settlement in the UK." Geography 1st ser. 97 (2012): 29-38. Spring 2012. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.

Storey, David. "New Migrants in the British Countryside." (n.d.): n. pag. 7th Quadrennial Conference of British, Canadian and American Rural Geographers, July 2011. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.

United Kingdom. The Migration Observatory. University of Oxford. Briefing Long-Term International Migration Flows to and from the UK. By Carlos Vargas-Silva. N.p., 01 Aug. 2013. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

United Kingdom. The Migration Observatory. University of Oxford. Briefing Short-Term Migration in the UK: A Discussion of the Issues and Existing Data. By Carlos Vargas-Silva. N.p., 23 Aug. 2012. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.

United Kingdom. UK Border Agency. Department for Work and Pensions. Accession Monitoring Report May 2004 - March 2009. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.

United Nations. Statistics Division. International Migration. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2013.

Wasley, Andrew. "News Investigation Bitter Harvest: How Exploitation and Abuse Stalks Migrant Workers on UK Farms." The Ecologist. N.p., 10 Oct. 2011. Web. 06 Nov. 2013.