IMMIGRANTS

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All Brits will be treated as potential illegal immigrants when they apply for a job, to avoid discriminating against foreign workers. Employers will also risk punishment if they ask job applicants to speak fluent English. This is despite ministers having a stated policy that, if migrants are to properly integrate, they must learn the language. The government said businesses would in future face on-the-spot fines of up £10,000 for every illegal immigrant they are caught employing.

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said companies must carry out proper checks on new employees to ensure they are legally resident in the UK. But documents released alongside the crackdown revealed that, in doing so, firms must ensure they do not flout the Race Relations Act. They must treat all applicants the same, which means British workers must be made to prove they are not an illegal immigrant by, for example, producing a passport. The Home Office is also warning against employing only people who speak fluent English.

Families who have a nanny, or sign a contract with a builder for an extension, will potentially be liable for a fine as they are technically an employer. Any employer who wants to employ a foreign worker must be cleared to act as a "sponsor". New rules will also apply to colleges who must tell the authorities if an overseas student fails to turn up. Identity cards will become compulsory for foreign workers, giving employers an easy way to check their status. (Source: Daily Mail, Nov/07)

Tony Blair gave the go-ahead for thousands of migrants from the 10 new European Union states to come to Britain to work. But the PM banned the job seekers, mostly from poor former Eastern Bloc countries, from claiming benefits for two years. The deal followed talks with Home Secretary David Blunkett and Work Secretary Andrew Smith in a bid to stop "benefit tourism".

A Government source said, "It is a question of practicality. We have shortages of workers in many jobs and would welcome them being filled by people from these countries. We would also prefer as many as possible to be working here legally, paying their taxes and national insurance like anyone else. But we have to recognise that some may be lured to Britain by our comparatively generous benefit system and free treatment on the NHS - so it makes sense to limit their availability for a while."

The Government will extend the block on benefits for a further five years if a serious problem develops. Most of the other 14 EU countries have imposed tough restrictions to stop mass migration. The Tories have whipped up scare stories predicting a crime wave and influx of gypsies. But ministers are confident the number of migrants will be limited to about 13,000. Dutch politicians yesterday voted to kick out 26,000 illegal immigrants by 2007. Some sewed their mouths and eyes shut in protest.

HOW THE 10 NEW MEMBERS WILL AFFECT BRITAIN

CYPRUS (Population: 800 000)
There is a large and established Cypriot community in Britain as well as long-standing ties with this country. However, in practice, EU expansion is unlikely to make any difference to the pattern of Cypriots working in Britain and then returning home.

CZECH REPUBLIC (Population: 10.3 million)
Large numbers of Czechs head for Britain every year, including thousands of au pairs and students. An annual average of 2,000 Czechs, mainly Roma, have also claimed asylum in recent years. Because of its high standard of education, it could supply professionals for hi-tech industries.

ESTONIA (Population: 1.4 million)
The wealthiest of the Baltic states, its closest links are with Finland. Only a few dozen Estonians travel to work in Britain at present.

HUNGARY (Population: 10.2 million)
As one of the most prosperous new entrants, it might be expected to provide a substantial number of skilled migrants. But there are few historic links between Britain and Hungary, which tends to look towards Germany. Fewer than 700 work permits were issued to Hungarians in 2002.

LATVIA (Population: 2.4 million)
Latvia is the Baltic state with the highest number of ethnic Russians, most of whom are very poor. About 1,500 of its citizens come to Britain each year. Two-thirds of them take up seasonal work, including labouring and fruit picking. There are small Latvian communities in London and south Wales.

LITHUANIA (Population: 3.5 million)
Like Poland, with which it has historic ties, it provides large numbers of casual workers in the agricultural sector. In 2002, more than 2,100 Lithuanians came to Britain on the Government's seasonal work scheme. New migrants are likely to be drawn by the established Lithuanian communities in London, Manchester and Nottingham.

MALTA (Population: 400 000)
The only accession state to have English as one of its official languages, it has historic ties to Britain, being awarded the George Cross after the Second World War. But as such a small country, its arrival in the EU will have a negligible effect on British work patterns. Just 145 people from Malta were given work permits in 2002.

POLAND (Population: 38.6 million)
Likely to provide the largest number of economic migrants, drawn by the Polish community established in Britain for more than half a century. The biggest concentration of Poles is in west London. Polish migrants have traditionally worked in construction and agriculture, although there are also increasing numbers in domestic work.

SLOVAKIA (Population: 5.4 million)
The less prosperous nation to emerge from the split of Czechoslovakia, the spectre of impoverished Roma heading for Britain has been raised by some newspapers. Apart from the 3,000 Slovakian au pairs employed each year, there is little sign that a flood of economic migrants could be on the way. Just over 1,000 Slovakians came to work in this country in 2002, nearly all of them undertaking casual work.

SLOVENIA (Population: 2 million)
A small wealthy state, the first to break away from Yugoslavia, it has no long-standing links with Britain. Just 65 work permits were issued to Slovenians in 2002.

A stampede for passports to a new life in Britain began just minutes after our borders were thrown open to Bulgaria and Romania. Huge queues formed outside police stations in Romania, where staff issue the pictures needed for passport applications. Few had bothered to obtain passports in the past but many are now desperate to get their hands on the £25 travel document which will be a ticket to a new life.

The Home Office attempted to calm public anxiety that Britain will be unable to cope with a new wave of migration by promising that workers from the two countries would be given only 'gradual access' to our economy. Tony Blair said that, without rules that allow us some control over who comes in and who comes out, migrants will be greeted with fear rather than a welcome.

As a result, a quota is likely to be set on the number of work permits handed out to work in jobs such as agriculture. But it quickly emerged Ministers have no power to stop workers travelling here anyway, as all EU citizens have the right of free movement. They also cannot stop migrants moving to Britain as self-employed workers. Huge numbers are expected to claim to have their own work.

The EU approved Bulgaria and Romania's membership applications despite continuing concerns over organised crime, people smuggling, high-level corruption and food safety. But, instead of delaying membership on the countries, which have a combined population of 30million, the EU chose to impose conditions on them instead.

Some of their food products will be banned from the internal EU market. They will also face regular six-monthly checks that they are tackling corruption and criminal gangs. The Government predicted a maximum of 13,000 entrants per year with the last intake in 2004. Six hundred thousand have since arrived. (Source: Mail on Sunday, Sep/06)