Drive to dispel misconceptions about migrant workers

The publication contains answers to 12 frequently asked questions about the rights of the workers in this country.

The subjects covered include driving licences, rights to work, benefit entitlements, housing and health treatment.

The leaflet also distinguishes between migrants who are entitled to be here from the EU's 25 countries, illegal immigrants who should not be here, and asylum seekers.

Arun Local Strategic Partnership of various organisations has issued the leaflet through its cultural and ethnic diversity forum. Its contents are intended to be used by schools, youth workers, health professionals, police officers, council staff and members of voluntary organisations.

Hilary Spencer, the chairman of the Arun LSP, said: 'It will help them to provide accurate answers to commonly asked questions and correct some of the most frequent misconceptions about migrant worker communities.'

Bognor has an estimated 6,000 residents who have moved to the town from countries such as Poland, Latvia and Lithuania.

Mrs Spencer commented that the partnership hoped the leaflet would help towards its aim of ensuring the Arun district was a welcoming and inclusive community. The leaflet has been adapted to suit the Bognor area from a prototype published in Lincolnshire.

Copies of the Arun version have been circulated to the partnership's members and its associated groups and agencies. It is available on the www.btconnect.com/CVS-Arunwide website.