Thanks for expressing all this. We have a similar problem in Ireland. The introduction of Eastern European countries in 2004 flooded us with new lowpaid workers, with 10% of our population being Polish, who have settled here and built lives. We were at "full employment" (unemplyment below 4%) in the noughties, with net immigration and high property prices.
During the crash of 2008, the government bailed out the banks, and until about 2016 the economy tanked, and many of all nationalities were forced to emigrate. Unemployment rose to 14-16%. The government decided to cut back on spending in public services (healthcare, education) and infrastructure (social housing) to service the bank debt. It also has maintained the stranglehold of high house prices and higher rents.
Now we have low unemployment again and a high population of workers from abroad: Brazil, India, Phillipines, Ukraine. Working at all levels. Our health system depends on foreign nationals.
These folks are charged outrageously high rents by Irish and overseas landlords.
As property is so hard to find to rent or buy, and public services are so underfunded, there has been a backlash in recent months, with riots and burning of buildings, and slogans of 'Ireland is full'.
Thanks for expressing all this. We have a similar problem in Ireland. The introduction of Eastern European countries in 2004 flooded us with new lowpaid workers, with 10% of our population being Polish, who have settled here and built lives. We were at "full employment" (unemplyment below 4%) in the noughties, with net immigration and high property prices.
During the crash of 2008, the government bailed out the banks, and until about 2016 the economy tanked, and many of all nationalities were forced to emigrate. Unemployment rose to 14-16%. The government decided to cut back on spending in public services (healthcare, education) and infrastructure (social housing) to service the bank debt. It also has maintained the stranglehold of high house prices and higher rents.
Now we have low unemployment again and a high population of workers from abroad: Brazil, India, Phillipines, Ukraine. Working at all levels. Our health system depends on foreign nationals.
These folks are charged outrageously high rents by Irish and overseas landlords.
As property is so hard to find to rent or buy, and public services are so underfunded, there has been a backlash in recent months, with riots and burning of buildings, and slogans of 'Ireland is full'.
In today's Irish Times newspaper:
'Irish ‘ghost student’ visa scam raises alarm in Dublin language schools:
Non-European Economic Area nationals using ‘risky’ fake documents are undermining businesses, English language schools say'
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2024/03/19/irish-ghost-student-visa-scam-raises-alarm-in-dublin-language-schools/?