According to a report from the Bank of England, the country's central bank, the proportion of foreign-born residents aged between 16 and 64 in Britain has risen from eight per cent in 1995, to 11 per cent last year.

Around a fifth of migrants were born within the European Union, while a further one-fifth were from the Indian sub-continent, and a quarter were from Africa or the Middle East.

Of those who have migrated here in the past two years, nearly half - 45 per cent - arrive with a university degree, compared to just 17 per cent of British workers.

The report, however, said that despite those higher education levels among immigrants, they were still more likely to be working in hotels or restaurants.

The Bank of England said that while some might eventually use their qualifications to get better jobs, and others could return to their homelands, the overall picture was unclear.

"It appears that new immigrants are more educated than both previous waves of immigrants and those born in the UK, but they are more likely to be working in elementary occupations," the report said.

Meanwhile, a speech which was due yesterday by the TUC, the umbrella grouping of labour unions in Britain, was to reveal some of the "horror" stories suffered by migrants to the country.

Among them are a Portuguese man and his pregnant wife working on a farm in Lancashire, northwest England, living in a house they shared with 17 others, and left with just six pounds (around N$83,40) a week to live on after deductions.

"This is not some Dickensian nightmare - this is happening here and now in Britain," Frances O'Grady, the TUC deputy general secretary, will tell a conference in London.

"Migrant workers make a massive contribution to our economy, public services and national life.

Some have a positive experience of working in Britain, but the day-to-day reality many face is exploitation, dangerous working conditions, and employment far below their skill level.

She said the problems were often made worse by migrants lacking the ability to speak English, having little awareness of the basic rights to which they were entitled, and public prejudice.

The TUC said the government should introduce a social agreement between ministers, employers and unions on the subject of migration, and is itself planning to publish a guide for migrants to Britain, giving advice on non-employment matters.

Nampa-AFP

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