Further to your article about migrant labour (CM, April) I wish to put forward an alternative point of view. I work as a contracts manager for a groundwork company and have employed migrant workers for more than 10 years.

Far from exploiting them we have trained and encouraged them to learn skills and become valuable members of our company. This situation enables us to grow and them to earn good money.

I have taken great pleasure in firstly employing young eastern European men on basic labourers' rates and for them to earn tradesman or foreman rates within a few years.

The reality in the London area is that the construction industry would not function with out them. I currently employ 100+ and know that I could not replace them with the 1.4m unemployed in the UK because I have tried.

There will always be those who exploit but these workers are often intelligent and soon wise up to better themselves.

Malcolm Furniss

Source

Construction Manager