This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/6958176.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Migrants like 'modern day slaves' | Migrants like 'modern day slaves' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Some migrant workers in Scotland are being treated like "modern day slaves", according to campaigners. | Some migrant workers in Scotland are being treated like "modern day slaves", according to campaigners. |
| Sue Smith, who campaigns for foreign labourers in Angus, said promises of good accommodation and pay quickly disappear when they arrive. | |
| Two Polish workers told BBC Scotland that after two weeks of labour they actually owed the farmer money. | Two Polish workers told BBC Scotland that after two weeks of labour they actually owed the farmer money. |
| Housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland, said living conditions were unacceptable. | |
| Concerns about migrant worker accommodation were raised after a Czech man, Petr Adamik, died in a caravan fire at an unlicensed site on a farm in Arbroath in April this year. | |
| 'Bare mattresses' | |
| Ms Smith has urged politicians to act to improve the conditions for migrant workers. | Ms Smith has urged politicians to act to improve the conditions for migrant workers. |
| She started campaigning to improve the lives of eastern European people in Arbroath after the murder of another Czech man by a drug addict in the town in 2005. | |
| Ms Smith has gathered images and accounts of working and living conditions at farms in the area. | |
| "I have been able to go on to a few of these farms and actually seen the conditions for myself," she said. | |
| In some cases people are risking their lives to live in unsafe conditions James JoplingShelter Scotland | |
| "A lot of the living accommodation is a very poor standard. It's very cold in winter, in summer there's no proper ventilation and there's no bedding when they arrive - they've just got bare mattresses. | |
| "It's just very poor, there's often no electric, no hot water and no shower facilities." | |
| In the county of Angus alone, 4,000 migrant workers now live and work in the area. | |
| James Jopling, head of campaigns at housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland, has called on local authorities to ensure workers have decent living conditions. | |
| "We are hearing stories of people forced to live in horrific conditions because they have little or no choice," he said. | |
| "They don't feel they can complain in some cases in case they get chucked out. In some cases people are risking their lives to live in unsafe conditions." | |
| The charity has recently produced advice leaflets in Polish to let them know their rights. |