Richard Howitt MEP visits Rosmini Centre to mark migrant worker exploitation crackdown

EURO MP Richard Howitt marked the announcement of a �3million migrant worker exploitation crackdown with a visit to Wisbech - an identified "hot-spot" for the scheme.

The two-year, EU-funded campaign will tackle dangerous working conditions and low pay of some migrant workers.

It will start in London and Leicester, before spreading out to areas across the country including Wisbech.

Mr Howitt said: "It's a recognition that Wisbech has attracted a high number of migrant workers.

"There are many good stories where migrants are working very hard and being given a big welcome by the Wisbech community.

"But there are some bad stories we need to stop."

Mr Howitt visited the Rosmini Centre, which provides support services for migrant workers, on Friday to speak to migrant workers about their experiences of working in the UK.

One worker, Judita Skinderyte from Lithuania, is a financial law student in her home country but studied in Birmingham for six months and stayed in the UK to find a job.

She said: "England is the best place to study. The conditions are very good and it is easy to get a student loan.

"People were saying that in Wisbech it is very easy to find a job and that was true - I was a supervisor in a factory."

Judita is now studying at the College of West Anglia and, this week, started work as a teaching assistant.

She added: "Lithuania is bad but getting worse. It is nearly impossible to find a job."

Tomasz Krewsun, from Poland, ran a gardening business in Ireland for five years before coming to Wisbech on the advice of friends. He now works in healthcare.

He said: "Language is a barrier; we can't express ourselves and fight for our rights.

"This is a good place to come but not at this time. It is very tough with the world in recession.

"But life for me is very enjoyable.