Labour, Mobility and Temporary Migration: A Comparative Study of Polish Migration to Wales

Labour, Mobility and Temporary Migration delves into sociological research on Polish migrants who migrated to the lesser-explored South Wales region after Poland joined the European Union in 2004. At the time of enlargement, Polish migrants were characterised as being economically motivated, short-term migrants who would enter the UK for work purposes, save money and return home. However, over ten years after enlargement, this initial characterisation has been challenged with many of the once considered 'short-term' Poles remaining in the UK. In the case of Wales, the long-term impact of this migration is only starting to be fully realised, particularly in consideration of the different spatial areas - urban, semi-urban and rural - explored in this book. Such impact is occurring in the post-Brexit referendum period, a time when the UK's position in the EU is itself complex and changing.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: EU Enlargement, Migration and the UK Introduction EU History and the 2004 Enlargement Polish Migration in the UK: 10 Years After Enlargement Migrants in Wales 2004 - 2015 Signposting for the rest of book Chapter 2: Theorising Migration - Understanding Motivations, Networks and Mobility Introduction Framing migration patterns Understanding motivations for migration Economic motivations to migrate Non-economic motivations to migrate Social networks Labour market mobility The ethnic economy Overstaying, settling and return migration Conclusion Chapter 3: Locations and Research Methodology Introduction The fieldwork sites of the South Wales region Urban Case Semi-Urban Case Rural Case Review of research methods and sampling Urban - Cardiff Semi-Urban - Merthyr Rural - Llanelli Limitations to the studies Conclusion Chapter 4: Why Migrate? Motivations and Migrant Decision-MakingIntroduction A culture of mobility? Money, motives and migration Making migration happen - networks and agencies Social networks Staffing agencies: middlemen of migration Conclusion Chapter 5: Polish Migrants in Cardiff: Changing Motivations in a Diverse City Environment Introduction Accommodation and Community Building Employment in the UK Ethnic Economy Construction and Employment Ethnic Entrepreneurs and Co-Ethnic Workers Migrant Labour Market Mobility Human Capital Development Migrant Identity Role of Family and Future Plans Conclusion Chapter 6: Polish Workers in Merthyr Tydfil: Happily resigned to life in the Valleys? Introduction Accessing the local labour market Migrant labour market mobility Inside the workplace Social networks - beyond initial migration Conclusion Chapter 7: Polish Migrants in Llanelli: What happens after the initial migration period? Introduction Accessing the local labour market Migrant working in Llanelli Being a migrant Conclusion Chapter 8: 'Migratory Drift' (or Why Migrants Nearly Always Stay Longer than Planned) Introduction Migratory Patterns and Policy The Initial Phase of Settling In: Six months after Arriving in the UK The Transition Phase: Drifting through Migration The Final Phase: the Indecisiveness of Deciding to Stay or Return Conclusion Chapter 9: Polish Migrant Integration Introduction EU Migration and Legal Integration Economic Integration Social Integration Cultural Integration Concluding Remarks Chapter 10: Policy implications Introduction The value of EU migrants to the UK and Welsh economy The rights of migrant workers in the workplace Community cohesion Education Housing Health No Recourse to Public Funds and the rise of migrant support networksPost Brexit politics: the end of freedom of movement? Implications for policy References