Migrant workers earn more than Britons

LONDON: It's official. Migrant workers in the United Kingdom work harder, earn more and even pay more tax than Britons.

Yes, according to a study conducted by the government, immigrant workers are both higher paid and more reliable than their British counterparts, and contributed six billion pounds to economic growth last year, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported.

"The research showed that in the long run, our country and exchequer are better off with immigration rather than without it," British Immigration Minister Liam Byrne was quoted as saying.

According to the findings, migrants earned 424 pounds a week on an average, compared with 395 pounds for British workers, and paid more in tax than they consumed in services.

The report also found that in 2006, record immigration pushed the number of foreign workers up to 12.5 per cent, or one eighth, of the labour force, compared to 7.4 per cent ten years back.

Since average output growth over this period was 2.7 per cent a year and migration contributed an estimated 15 to 20 per cent of this, the study estimated a contribution of six billion pounds from foreign workers or 700,000 pounds a day.

"In the long run, it is likely that the net fiscal contribution of an immigrant will be greater than that of a non-immigrant," the research said, claiming that there's no evidence of foreign workers pushing British people out of jobs, although it presents no firm evidence for this.

However, a separate paper published with the study by the UK Home Office admitted there were complaints about the impact of immigration on housing and other public services.