Migrant workers ‘improve UK fiscal position’

Employing non-UK workers from Eastern Europe has had a positive effect on the economy, it has been said.

Poles, Czechs and other nationalities from the region who came to the UK since 2004 have paid “substantially more” taxes than what they have received in benefits, the study by the University College London found.

Research leader Professor Christian Dustmann said during the 2008/09 fiscal year, such migrant workers paid 37 per cent more in taxes than what they claimed in benefits.

“From the fiscal point of view, this immigration has not been at all a burden on the welfare system. Rather, it has contributed to strengthen the fiscal position,” he added.

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The study looked at arrivals between 2004 and 2008 and found that 75 per cent of working-age women and 90 per cent of working-age men were in employment.

Irish Congress of Trade Unions assistant general secretary Peter Bunting recently commented that migrant workers are highly productive and pay taxes which contribute to public services.