FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

This page has been prepared as an information guide to enable people to find out more about frequently used terminology, racism, economic impact and how to challenge the most common myths used against migrant workers.

What is a migrant worker?
Is the term migrant worker offensive?
What other migration categories are there other than migrant workers?
What is the difference between an immigrant and an emigrant?
What is a "minority ethnic" group?
What are the different categories of migrant workers in domestic law?
Which terms are used that are offensive and/or problematic?
What is Racism?
Is it true that migrant workers don’t have to pay tax in the UK?

1. What is a migrant worker?

The term "Migrant worker" basically means someone who travels to another country to work. The term is defined in a UN Convention as:

"…a person, who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national"

International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families

2. Is the term migrant worker offensive?

It can be. Whilst some people may not be offended by the term, many people do find it offensive. It can be particularly so if it is misapplied to someone who is a member of a minority ethnic community and is born locally. This person may not be either a migrant worker or a migrant at all. Just because someone is a member of a minority ethnic community, it doesn't mean that they are a migrant worker.

There are a number of other reasons why someone might choose to move to another country; for example students, refugees and people migrating for family reasons. All of these groups are part of the broader minority ethnic population.

However, rather than labelling someone as a migrant worker, let's remember that everyone is a citizen of their home country. People who have travelled to the UK from Central and Eastern Europe to work remain European citizens - just as residents of the UK do as well.

3. What other migration categories are there other than migrant workers?

There are a lots of reasons why a person would choose to migrate (travel) to another country. For example:

As a Refugee:

A refugee is someone who has left their home country because of a fear of being harmed or mistreated. A refugee is defined, under the 1951 UN Convention as:

"A person who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country"

As an Asylum Seeker:

An "Asylum Seeker" is a term used by governments to describe someone has applied for refugee status and is still waiting for a decision to be made.

As a Student:

A student is someone who migrates to another country to study.

There are also many other reasons why someone may choose to settle in another country. For example, people may migrate to be reunited with their family, or choose to move to their partner's country of origin.

4. What is the difference between an immigrant and an emigrant?

An immigrant is someone who migrates to a country, whereas an emigrant is someone who migrates away from a country. A migrant worker is both - they are an immigrant as they are moving to a country but is also an emigrant from their own country.

5. What is a "minority ethnic" group?

A minority ethnic group is a group of people who identify themselves as having a shared language, culture or ethnic origin.

Given that migrants will have a different nationality to the host population, migrants will be part of the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) population. However the Black and Minority Ethnic population will also include local minority ethnic people who are not migrants e.g. Irish Travellers, 2nd/3rd generation members of the Chinese / Asian communities and many other persons born here but who identify themselves as a minority ethnic group.

6. What are the different categories of migrant workers in UK law?

There are a number of categories in domestic immigration legislation of people who fit the international definition of migrant worker. The main categories are:

European Union / European Economic Area nationals with full rights as EU workers. This includes people from:
- EU15 countries: these are the 15 countries in the EU before 2004: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Ireland, Spain, Sweden and the UK
- Cyprus and Malta which joined the EU in 2004 but were not subjected to the Worker Registration Scheme. Also in this category are A8 (see below) nationals who have completed a year under the scheme.
- The European Economic Area incorporates all 25 countries of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. These three countries along with Switzerland also have freedom of movement.
A8: nationals of eight countries which joined the EU in 2004 subject to the Workers Registration Scheme. These are the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia
A2: nationals of Romania and Bulgaria; who joined the EU in 2007. In the future other countries such as Croatia or Turkey may also join.
Non-European Union/EEA nationals on Work Permits and other migration for employment routes.
- In these cases, employers not employees apply for work permits and they are only available when there is no person locally (within the EU) to do the job.
Unauthorised Workers
- In the context of migrant workers an unauthorised worker is a person who works without permission from the state to do so. Unauthorised workers are also known as irregular or undocumented workers.

7. Which terms can cause offence?

Sometimes the use of certain words and terms (often unknowingly) can cause offence, particularly when referring to people from other countries. A collective label such as "these people" may be considered to be dehumanising when used in relation to migrant workers or any other group of people. There are also terms that are not offensive but are inaccurate; for instance using the term "economic migrant" instead of "migrant worker"

Terms such as "illegal immigrant" often cause offence by stigmatising and criminalising a person. Whilst someone can be doing something that breech immigration rules or working without authorisation this does not make the actual person themselves "illegal". A preferable term for someone working without authorisation to do so is an "unauthorised worker".

There are also other terms that are used widely and accepted by many such as "non national". Some people do not like this term as it suggests that an individual does not belong to a state and is without a national identity.

Some terms are also used in a misleading way - for example the term "Ethnic communities" is misleading as it refers to everyone rather than any specific group. Everybody belongs to an ethnic group. There are minority ethnic groups, but also majority communities are majority ethnic groups.

8. What is Racism?

Racism has been defined as treating someone differently or unfairly because of their religion, nationality, skin colour, race or religion. A racist incident is 'any incident that is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person' (Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report).

Racism can take many different forms and can include:

Personal attacks of any kind, including violence
Written or verbal threats or insults
Damage to property, including graffiti
Inappropriate language

Racism does not always have to be intentional; ignorance can often unwittingly cause offence, especially when stereotypes reinforce people's views. Prejudice of any kind is usually based on ignorance and fear. Often people have opinions on things they know nothing about, and that includes on people, religions and cultures. It can also take place at a collective or organisational level - this is known as institutional racism.

9. Is it true that migrant workers don’t have to pay tax in the UK?

No – this is not true. People who come to the UK to work do have to pay taxes in exactly the same way that people born in the UK have to (See question seven for an explanation of residents of which countries can work within the UK).

Overall rules and regulations about migrant workers working in the UK vary, depending on the home country of the worker. However, workers from many Eastern and Central European countries are required to apply to register with the Home Office under the Worker Registration Scheme as soon as they find work.

Migrant workers must pay UK tax on the work that they are employed to do in the UK. Their employer is responsible for making the necessary arrangements and deducting the money from their wages.

When working in the UK, either with an agency or a direct employer, migrant workers also have to pay UK social security contributions (known as National Insurance) to the UK. Again, it is the responsibility of the employer to make the necessary arrangements and deduct the money from wages paid.

It is the case that a small minority of migrant workers may enter the UK through employment agencies that do not adhere to these regulations. In these cases such agencies are breaking the law by subjecting migrant workers to unfair conditions of housing and work.

Migrant workers are working, paying taxes and helping the economy to grow.