Issues Facing Migrant Workers in the Tourism Sector: with Specific Reference to External Agencies in Hotels
Author: Kieran Haynes
1 Commentries
Abstract
There are groups who find themselves more vulnerable in all industries; migrants are firmly one of the most vulnerable groups. The aim of this paper is to identify some of the reasons for this vulnerability but also to show examples of what takes place in tourism and particularly hotels when external agencies are involved. Hopefully the findings from this paper will go some way to raising awareness and help stop this issue.
Keywords: Tourism, Migrants, External Agencies, Exploitation.
Investigating the Key Issues Facing Migrant Workers in the Tourism Sector, with Specific Reference to External Agencies in Hotels
Tourism is one of the biggest worldwide industries, it is forever evolving and different destinations emerge, this has led to economic geography especially with the increased salience of all-inclusive holidays, the combination of this and globalisation which has increased cross boarder mobility allowing travel between countries for work. This topic has been chosen for study to add another dimension to previous research by applying case studies this could go some way to stopping exploitation of migrants in the industry.
Tourism is the UK’s third biggest sector employing over 2 million workers, this industry often suffers from labour shortages, this combined with entry level tourism jobs traditionally being low skills provides employment opportunities for migrants.
Seasonality is a real problem in tourism this creates fluctuating employment demands which has resulted in an increased tendency for flexible/zero hour contracts, although these allow employees to have more of a say over their working hours, it doesn’t create any guarantee of weekly hours, employees find themselves at the mercy of employers.
Academics have previously looked into the reasons why businesses look to employ migrant workers, because they are perceived to be hard working with a good work ethics. However Mackenzie and Forde (2009) findings showed that migrants are more willing to accept lower wages, sometimes this is below the national minimum wage although this is illegal it is possible because migrants are unsure of the law and their employment rights in a foreign country.
This hasn’t always been the case between 2007 and early 2014 although being part of EU migrants from Bulgaria and Romania didn’t have an automatic right to work in the UK, however if they were to be self-employed they could work this was a loophole, however this brought along its own problems self-employed workers were treated the same as other employees except they had no job security and weren’t entitled to fringe benefits.
With reference to constructing workplace identities, this can be difficult when working on a part-time or flexible basis because employees can feel as if they aren’t an integral part of the team, the combination of entry level tourism jobs being low skilled and attracting employees who aren’t highly educated can resurrect tensions between the resident community and migrants. The resident community act like snakes in the grass and make it difficult for migrants by making them feel insignificant due to their perceived naive perceptions that migrants are here to take our jobs (Nanos & Schluter, 2014).
Looking into the issue surrounding external agencies, these companies provide opportunities for migrant workers, they have become increasing common in hotels over the years especially for housekeeping departments, this has proved the most cost effective way for hotels to employee housekeepers. However agencies workers aren’t entitled to the same fringe benefits as employees employed by the company outright.
Case studies from the BBC show that the use of external agencies in hotels has brought about more abuse, higher labour turnover as a result of low job security and a deterioration in working conditions, housekeepers often find themselves in the situation where they are presented with no suitable cleaning equipment, where shampoos and shower gels are used as an industrial cleaning element.
Case studies also unveil more problems migrants face when working for external agencies underpaying is common findings shows this can be from £70 up to £113, the reason given by Hotelcare (The external agency) is these employees haven’t cleaned two and half rooms per hour, although Delia Cannings from the British Institute of Cleaning Service stated a standard room should take 40 minutes to clean. This makes it almost impossible for new starters to earn the National Minimum Wage and therefore not getting their full wage, hours worked are also altered by the agencies, these are both illegal (BBC New, 2012) .
As well as having to deal with exploitation, housekeepers have poor working conditions many housekeepers suffer from back and shoulder problems due of the physical nature of work, statistics show 84 out of 100 housekeepers were in physical pain and had to take painkillers before work, the combination of this and the working conditions make many migrants feel they would be unable to work beyond 50 due to stress.
These findings are surprising when considering academics argue hotel success is only partly down to the quality of the product offered, in hotels service quality is key in shaping customers experiences and perceptions which determine the overall satisfaction with a brand, chain or business. Thus proving the old adage a king is only as strong as the army behind him, so the exploitation of migrants is harming businesses and the sectors reputation.
References
BBC News. (2012). Romanian Journalist goes Undercover as Hotel Cleaner. Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19756137. Last accessed: [27th April 2014].
Mackenzie, R., & Forde, C. (2009). The Rhetoric of the ‘Good Worker’ Verse the Realities of Employers use and the Experiences of Migrant Workers. Work Employment and Society. Vol 23(1), p142-159.
Nanos, P., & Schluter, C. (2014). The Composition of Wage Differentials Between Migrants and Natives. European Economic Review. Vol 65(1), p23-44.
There are groups who find themselves more vulnerable in all industries; migrants are firmly one of the most vulnerable groups. The aim of this paper is to identify some of the reasons for this vulnerability but also to show examples of what takes place in tourism and particularly hotels when external agencies are involved. Hopefully the findings from this paper will go some way to raising awareness and help stop this issue.
Keywords: Tourism, Migrants, External Agencies, Exploitation.
Investigating the Key Issues Facing Migrant Workers in the Tourism Sector, with Specific Reference to External Agencies in Hotels
Tourism is one of the biggest worldwide industries, it is forever evolving and different destinations emerge, this has led to economic geography especially with the increased salience of all-inclusive holidays, the combination of this and globalisation which has increased cross boarder mobility allowing travel between countries for work. This topic has been chosen for study to add another dimension to previous research by applying case studies this could go some way to stopping exploitation of migrants in the industry.
Tourism is the UK’s third biggest sector employing over 2 million workers, this industry often suffers from labour shortages, this combined with entry level tourism jobs traditionally being low skills provides employment opportunities for migrants.
Seasonality is a real problem in tourism this creates fluctuating employment demands which has resulted in an increased tendency for flexible/zero hour contracts, although these allow employees to have more of a say over their working hours, it doesn’t create any guarantee of weekly hours, employees find themselves at the mercy of employers.
Academics have previously looked into the reasons why businesses look to employ migrant workers, because they are perceived to be hard working with a good work ethics. However Mackenzie and Forde (2009) findings showed that migrants are more willing to accept lower wages, sometimes this is below the national minimum wage although this is illegal it is possible because migrants are unsure of the law and their employment rights in a foreign country.
This hasn’t always been the case between 2007 and early 2014 although being part of EU migrants from Bulgaria and Romania didn’t have an automatic right to work in the UK, however if they were to be self-employed they could work this was a loophole, however this brought along its own problems self-employed workers were treated the same as other employees except they had no job security and weren’t entitled to fringe benefits.
With reference to constructing workplace identities, this can be difficult when working on a part-time or flexible basis because employees can feel as if they aren’t an integral part of the team, the combination of entry level tourism jobs being low skilled and attracting employees who aren’t highly educated can resurrect tensions between the resident community and migrants. The resident community act like snakes in the grass and make it difficult for migrants by making them feel insignificant due to their perceived naive perceptions that migrants are here to take our jobs (Nanos & Schluter, 2014).
Looking into the issue surrounding external agencies, these companies provide opportunities for migrant workers, they have become increasing common in hotels over the years especially for housekeeping departments, this has proved the most cost effective way for hotels to employee housekeepers. However agencies workers aren’t entitled to the same fringe benefits as employees employed by the company outright.
Case studies from the BBC show that the use of external agencies in hotels has brought about more abuse, higher labour turnover as a result of low job security and a deterioration in working conditions, housekeepers often find themselves in the situation where they are presented with no suitable cleaning equipment, where shampoos and shower gels are used as an industrial cleaning element.
Case studies also unveil more problems migrants face when working for external agencies underpaying is common findings shows this can be from £70 up to £113, the reason given by Hotelcare (The external agency) is these employees haven’t cleaned two and half rooms per hour, although Delia Cannings from the British Institute of Cleaning Service stated a standard room should take 40 minutes to clean. This makes it almost impossible for new starters to earn the National Minimum Wage and therefore not getting their full wage, hours worked are also altered by the agencies, these are both illegal (BBC New, 2012) .
As well as having to deal with exploitation, housekeepers have poor working conditions many housekeepers suffer from back and shoulder problems due of the physical nature of work, statistics show 84 out of 100 housekeepers were in physical pain and had to take painkillers before work, the combination of this and the working conditions make many migrants feel they would be unable to work beyond 50 due to stress.
These findings are surprising when considering academics argue hotel success is only partly down to the quality of the product offered, in hotels service quality is key in shaping customers experiences and perceptions which determine the overall satisfaction with a brand, chain or business. Thus proving the old adage a king is only as strong as the army behind him, so the exploitation of migrants is harming businesses and the sectors reputation.
References
BBC News. (2012). Romanian Journalist goes Undercover as Hotel Cleaner. Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19756137. Last accessed: [27th April 2014].
Mackenzie, R., & Forde, C. (2009). The Rhetoric of the ‘Good Worker’ Verse the Realities of Employers use and the Experiences of Migrant Workers. Work Employment and Society. Vol 23(1), p142-159.
Nanos, P., & Schluter, C. (2014). The Composition of Wage Differentials Between Migrants and Natives. European Economic Review. Vol 65(1), p23-44.