Skipping meals and rationing baths: Service failures contributing to working migrant parents’ hardship say experts

Research published today [9 October] by Migration Policy Scotland shows that migrants working legally in Scotland and their families often suffer significant financial hardship and are falling through existing safety nets. Experiences of poverty in migrant households impact directly on targets to reduce child poverty which Scottish Government is struggling to meet, especially within the minority ethnic population. Scotland’s migrant population includes 46,085 children under the age of 15 and makes up 77% of Scotland’s working age minority ethnic population.

Based on interviews with 60 migrants and 18 public/third sector support organisations across Scotland, researchers heard that working migrant households share many experiences with other Scottish people who are struggling to make ends meet and faced with high and rising rents, utility bills and costs for food, childcare and transport. They also have to find a way to meet the high cost of visa fees and immigration health surcharge, which can amount to £6,500 a year for a family of four.

In addition, migrants are much less likely than other low-waged households to have access to:

- Affordable credit in the UK that others may use to cope with one-off big costs or short-term financial difficulties. 

- Local extended family networks able to provide free and flexible childcare.

- Welfare support, including in-work benefits, child benefits. 

The research heard that migrant parents in Scotland often work in multiple jobs to make ends meet. Some parents told of going without meals in order to feed their children, a significant number of families were even rationing heating and hot water, and many were having to rely on foodbanks for essentials.  Further, working migrants often reported being trapped in jobs well below their levels of qualification and skills, and finding it hard to increase income through moving up the job ladder.

Funded by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, the study found that migrants face multiple obstacles when trying to get out of poverty via routes supported by the Scottish Government, local authorities and charities. It found that mainstream organisations and services supporting people in Scotland to increase incomes or reduce hardship and debt rarely have a clear understanding of the challenges and barriers which migrants and their families face. Frontline staff as well as migrant service users struggle to navigate complex welfare regulations. 

When they need help, migrants depend heavily on support and advice from precariously funded and overstretched community groups and small charities. Many of these organisations were originally established to provide social activities but now find themselves offering crisis support, employability services and benefit advice. 

Aisha, who took part in the research, moved to Scotland with her husband and son to study for a postgraduate degree. She passed with distinction, but has struggled to find a job, despite 18 years of work experience in her home country. Now with a graduate visa she has had to accept low-waged work to support her family. Her husband’s job is also low-waged and through an agency offering temporary contracts. When he is without work the family are left with less than £200 a month after paying their rent. They have had to rely almost entirely on foodbanks and have incurred fines for late payment of utilities. 

Aisha says, “It was so stressful. It put a strain on my life and my marriage at that point. When my husband was out of the job, that was really terrible for me. I could only pay rent then […] food was from food banks. I was jumping from one food bank to the other.”

To help working migrants raise their living standards, Migration Policy Scotland has today announced a new ‘policy laboratory’ initiative to bring together public and third sector services and support organisations, local authorities and the Scottish Government to find solutions. Ideas to be discussed at the ‘laboratory’ include:

- Improving access to services and support to raise migrant households’ capacity to lift themselves away from poverty. This means ensuring that key principles in poverty reduction such as ‘No Wrong Door’ and ‘Person Centred’ approaches include migrants. 

- Extending some benefits to people currently excluded, for example, so that migrant parents receiving Best Start Foods can also receive Best Start Grants.

- Ensuring that clear guidance is available to local authorities and others advising migrants or exercising discretion over their right to access benefits.

Dr Rebecca Kay, Senior Research at Migration Policy Scotland, said:

“Working migrants are a largely unseen population in current approaches to poverty reduction. The dual landscape of services and support is putting an untenable burden on migrant-facing organisations. Failing to support these migrant households limits their potential to contribute further still to our labour force, our population and our economy.”

María José Pavez Larrea, Co-General Manager, Grampian Regional Equalities Council (GREC), said:

“This research reflects what we encounter every day supporting migrants through GREC's projects and services. The report adds strong evidence highlighting the need to improve current support pathways to be inclusive and accessible to all. We hope recommendations are considered and implemented by decision-makers, as the positive impacts of immigration for our wider society are well-known.” 

John Halliday, CEO Community Renewal Trust, said:

“As an organisation employing many Roma migrants, our experience is that too many migrants are held back. When better supported, their potential and contribution to life in Scotland is incredible and exceeds our every expectation.”

Vivienne Jackson, Programme Manager, abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, said:

“For many working people who’ve migrated to Scotland to work, there’s a thinner safety net to help weather the usual financial ups and downs of life. It’s not right that hungry families think they aren’t allowed to use foodbanks – even though they are entitled to this help – because there is confusion and fear over breaking rules.  Thankfully, this report suggests real opportunities for the Scottish government and councils to work better with specialist and local organisations to tackle migrant financial hardship.”

The report, Open the Door: Migrants Facing Financial Disadvantage and their Needs for Support, published in partnership with Grampian Regional Equalities Council, Community Renewal Rom Romeha and Together for Better Life, calls on Scottish Government, Local Authorities, NGOs and employers to recognise the unique needs of migrant workers. 

Read report

Read the policy brief