MIGRANT WORKERS in Tayside are being targeted to ensure they don’t get exploited or run the risk of being another fire statistic.

Campaigners want to take a bus around the region’s farms to take the message to the East Europeans.

Many migrant workers live in caravans on farmland and remote from other properties, which has raised concerns about how these addresses are found by the fire service control room.

The death of a Czech farm worker in a caravan blaze in Arbroath in April convinced Tayside Fire and Rescue Service to redouble their efforts towards this vulnerable community.

A community safety information day at Dundee’s Wellgate Library on Saturday highlighted issues such as personal safety, fire safety and legal rights. It was organised by Tayside Fire and Rescue and Doreen Dowdles from the Community Advice Services Centre.

The event was held in Dundee as there is evidence that many of the target group use the Central Library for free internet access and information as well as the neighbouring Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

“This event is vitally important because international workers are now starting to have a voice,” said Doreen. “They are finding their feet, beginning to be a bit more integrated into society and are starting to ask, ‘is this right?’ ‘can I do this?’ and ‘do I have the right to complain?’

“Their English is getting better and they are accessing establishments like ours and coming and saying things like, ‘my wiring’s really shoddy—can I complain about this and where do I go to do that?’

“We’re actually going to be getting a bus and go round farms en masse and take the message to the communities. We’re hoping to get all the parties on board including the police and we’re going to take it round to people because apparently some farms have as many as 2000 people working on them.

“We want to get to them at the beginning and avail them of their rights rather than them later coming to me and saying, ‘we didn’t know we had to pay our council tax,’ or ‘we didn’t know this about safety,’ ‘my employer hasn’t given me a contract, is that okay?’ and ‘I’m working a 70-hour week, is that normal?’

“There are so many people trying to rip them off— some charge £50 for a phone call. We want to ensure they know their legal rights and highlight personal safety and fire safety.”

Last year the Citizens Advice Bureaux in Scotland said increasing numbers of migrant workers complained of low pay, long hours and substandard accommodation. Problems were compounded by language difficulties and no knowledge of basic rights.