A MORE COORDINATED APPROACH TO TACKLE ILLEGAL EMPLOYMENT WELCOME - LYNNE

5.47.42pm GMT Wed 16th May 2007

Liz Lynne, Lib Dem Employment and Social Affairs Spokesperson in the European Parliament and Vice President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee has today welcomed plans announced by the European Commission for Europe wide targets to crackdown on employer's of illegal migrants from third countries if it raises standards, but urged that more must be down to tackle the exploitation of workers moving within the EU.

The European Commission is set to adopt today (16th May) a package of immigration measures, among which is a proposal for EU-wide targets to clamp down on employers of illegal immigrants.

Speaking today Liz said:

"I welcome any proposal by the EU to raise standards and ensure Member States clamp down on illegal employment, its clear the Government itself has failed to adequately address the issue of the exploitation of migrant workers in the UK in many cases, whether they are illegal or not "

However, the EU's proposals would apply to the employment of non-EU citizens only and would not cover people from the new Eastern European Member States taking on undeclared work in the west.

"The Government must do more to tackle the exploitation of workers who come to the UK from Eastern Europe, current legislation aimed at Gang masters only covers the agriculture and horticultural sector and is not being implemented effectively"

"The UK must also sign and ratify the UN Convention on the protection of Migrant Workers and their families and move quickly to ratify the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Beings"