Workers' degrees 'disregarded'

THE qualifications of migrant workers are not being recognised by some employers in Scotland, according to study findings released today.

Almost 1000 workers living in Fife, the majority of whom came from Poland, were interviewed in the Migrant Workers Survey.

The study found that despite nearly 50 per cent holding either a university degree or an undergraduate qualification, over 70 per cent made no use of their skills in their current job.

Nearly half of those questioned (45 per cent) said they felt employers in Scotland did not recognise their qualifications at all.

Most of those who took part in the study were aged 25 to 34, male, single and from Poland.

The Fife Council study also found that one in four had experienced verbal abuse in Scotland and five per cent had been subjected to physical abuse. The most common type of job was in factories or processing, where around 40 per cent were employed.