IrregularMigrationintheUK

Anipprupdate

May2009©ippr2009

InstituteforPublicPolicyResearch

Challengingideas– Changingpolicy

WWW.IPPR.ORG

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IrregularMigration:Anipprupdate

TheInstituteforPublicPolicyResearch(ippr)istheUK’sleadingprogressivethinktank,producingcutting-edgeresearchandinnovativepolicyideasforajust,democraticandsustainableworld.Since1988,wehavebeenattheforefrontofprogressivedebateandpolicymakingintheUK.Throughourindependentresearchandanalysiswedefinenewagendasforchangeandprovidepracticalsolutionstochallengesacrossthefullrangeofpublicpolicyissues.WithofficesinbothLondonandNewcastle,weensureouroutlookisasbroad-basedaspossible,whileourinternationalandmigrationteamsandclimatechangeprogrammeextendourpartnershipsandinfluencebeyondtheUK,givingusatrulyworld-classreputationforhighqualityresearch.

ippr,

30-32SouthamptonStreet,LondonWC2E7RA.Tel:+44(0)2074706100E:info@ippr.orgwww.ippr.org.RegisteredCharityNo.800065

ThisbriefingwasfirstpublishedinMay2009.

©ippr2009

Aboutippr

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IrregularMigration:Anipprupdate

IrregularMigrationintheUK:Anipprupdate

Keypoints

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PeoplewhohaveenteredthecountryillegallymakeuparelativelysmallproportionoftheirregularmigrantpopulationintheUK–mostirregularmigrantsentertheUKlegally,andsomearealsolegallyresident(butnotlegallyworking).

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ipprbelievesthattherecentestimatesofirregularmigrantsintheUKpublishedbytheLondonSchoolof Economics–whichhaveacentralestimateof725,000–giveagoodindicationofthelikelyirregularmigrantpopulation.However,theseestimatesexcludemigrantswhoareintheUKlegally,butarebreachingthework-relatedconditionsoftheirentryorresidence.Thisgroupcouldnumberuptoanadditional165,000migrantswhoareinsomesense‘irregular’.

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IrregularmigrantsaremakingasignificantcontributiontotheUKeconomy,mainlydoinglow-skilled,low-paidjobsinsectorssufferingfromhighvacancyrates.

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However,theeconomiccontributionofirregularmigrantsisreducedbecauseofthefactthattheyare‘irregular’,asistheircontributiontothepublicpurse.Althoughthelimiteddataonirregularmigrantsmakesanyfirmfiguresdifficulttocomeby,weestimatethattheUK’sirregularmigrantswouldpaywellinexcessof£1billionoftaxperyeariftheyworkedinthelegalandregulareconomy,andpossiblysubstantiallymore.

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Moreneedstobedonetoencouragewould-beirregularmigrantstostayintheircountries,includingthroughtargeteddevelopmentsupportandbetterinformationforwould-bemigrants.

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TheGovernmentshouldmakecompliancewiththeruleseasierformigrantswhoarealreadylegallyabletoworkintheUK,includingbyendingtherequirementformigrantsfromEUaccessionstatestoregisterundertheWorkerRegistrationScheme.ItshouldalsoexpandthelegalopportunitiestoworkforthosewhoarelegallyresidentintheUKaslimitinglegalmigrants’abilitytoworkslowstheirintegrationandreducestheircontributiontotheUK.

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Rigorousenforcementofemploymentregulationsisneededtodealwiththoseemployerswhoknowinglyemployirregularmigrantsinordertobreaktheserules.

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Moreroutesforlegalmigration(particularlyforthelowskilled)areneeded,bothtomeettheneedsof employersintheUK,andtodivertpotentialirregularmigrantsintolegalmigration.

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TurningablindeyetoirregularmigrantsalreadyintheUKisnotacrediblepolicy:aswellasreducingtheeconomiccontributionofmigrants,irregularityhasdamagingconsequencesformigrantsthemselvesandsocialcostsfortheircommunitiesbecauseirregularitylimitsintegration.

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Removingallirregularmigrantsisalsounfeasible.Itwouldcostupto£12billion(excludingsupportandaccommodation)andtakeatleast25yearsbasedoncurrentcostsandratesofremoval.

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TheUKshouldlookatwaysthatirregularmigrantscould‘earn’theirwaybacktoregularstatus,basedontheirrecordintheUK,sponsorshipbyreputableorganisations,andfamilyandhumanitarianconsiderations.

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Regularisationshouldnotcomethroughaone-offamnesty.Apathwaybacktoregularisationshouldbebuiltintotheimmigrationsystem.

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Notallwhowanttostayshouldbeallowedto.Somepeopleshouldberemoved.Othersshouldonlybeabletostayonatemporarybasis.