Your feature on immigration from the new entrants to the European Union (20 May, pages 26-29) chimes with the findings of the RICS’ UK construction industry survey earlier this year.

Language is important, not only for the obvious health and safety reasons, but also because of the skilled migrants whose deficiency in English limits their career development to labouring.

Last year the RICS called on the construction sector to develop a programme of on-site English language tuition for immigrant workers. This would make construction work safer for all, would help reduce the shortage of skilled workers even more, and would allow the industry to make the significant claim that it is taking corporate social responsibility seriously.

Launce Morgan, chairman, RICS Construction Faculty Board

Topics