Foreign Workers - a view from France

[Rollin]

When Gordon Brown promised British Jobs for British Workers he was in theory being just anti-european as of course workers are free to work wherever they choose within the EU?

I never cease to be amazed at the ease with which Brtain commits UK citizens to EU Law and the ease with which our European partners appear to circumvent it.

Nieghbours of ours in France, who are retired teachers, tell me they could never work in France as their English degrees are not recognised here. One has a degree in French and was a University lecturer. They told me my son who has a Scottish Degree could work in France as his degree is recognised!! The 'Auld Alliance?'

Their son also a teacher lives and works in Spain he earns far less than the Spanish lecturers who teach the same subject - because he has an English Degree. What does he teach English?

Then there is a family who moved to France because his company in the UK had a job for him in France and needed his skills. When the family arrived he was told there was no job for him as the post had to be given to a French person.

Or how about my friend who is a qualified BHS instructor? In order to earn a living in France she had to undergo two years of re-education before she could work here.

That included writing essays in French on every subject you could mention from Le Trec to Carriage Driving and all aspects of 'management'. Then she has to be assessed for riding and teaching skills.

Having passed her exams she then ran the gauntlet of French Bureaucracy for her licence to teach.

Dear Gordon Brown,

Ring M. Sarkosy and ask him for some tips.

 

[JCWHITE]

We were having a conversation along these lines today.We wonder if jobs would be given to English people here in France, provided they could speak French?, then may be it would be a H and S issue if they couldnt!!.
Absolutely agree with you re the Riding Instructor. I have a friend in that situation, crazy, given the standards(not) being witnessed in some so called livery places and riding centres.Sorry to anyone who is French and keeps their horses properly!Apparently, and I have been on to the BHS about this, wording of BHS Assistant Instructor.The word Assistant seems to be causing some confusion.
JC

 

[RichardRider]

I also have very dear English Friends, highly qualified riding instructors who moved to France years ago, bought a farm and began restoring and teaching...Only to find that their degrees WERE NOT recognized and that they were UNINSURABLE!

They lost their business and sold their place and are still trying to become "recognized" 7years later, all the way to European Courts!

Very Sad. They are tremendous instructiors!

rr

 

[Rollin]

Yes very sad indeed. Makes a mockery of free movement of labour within the EU. Labour moves freely into UK but encounters obstacles moving out!!

 

[WishfulThinker]

Thats cause the UK just bends over and parts its cheeks when it sees the EU coming!

They roger us stupid and we let them!

When I worked at a Scottish uni, the EU students had their fees paid for by the SAAS(even though we have to pay to go to a uni in the EU!), but the English, welsh and NI students had to pay!

 

[pootler]

I think it's more about Britishness and our British culture. We all stand neatly in a line and queue whereas Europeans just elbow and trample people out the way!

We follow the rules because we love a bit of bureaucracy and after all, rules is rules. Europeans consider rules as general guidelines rather than absolutes, if they like the rule they might follow it, if it doesn't suit them they probably wont.

 

[RichardRider]

[ QUOTE ]
I think it's more about Britishness and our British culture. We all stand neatly in a line and queue whereas Europeans just elbow and trample people out the way!

We follow the rules because we love a bit of bureaucracy and after all, rules is rules. Europeans consider rules as general guidelines rather than absolutes, if they like the rule they might follow it, if it doesn't suit them they probably wont.

[/ QUOTE ]

Probably more true about the French than any others...There are pros and cons but referring back to my English Friends, they were "immigrants" who came here WITH THEIR INVESTMENTS AND LIFE SAVINGS TO INVEST HERE and make a living, not sponge off the French Goverment like most immigrants coming here

(And I'm not rascist,...I hope, when saying this but it's sadly true!) You can tell very quickly the expats that stay here and try to make a go of things, paying taxes and keeping our noses clean,...we all have the old broken down cars and work our tails off!

rr

 

[magic104]

Well going by the comments then it is hardly surprising the British are getting a tad fed up! Sorry to say there are are far too many British people who know how to make the most of the system & milk it for all its worth. All you need are a few kids in school & an ederly relative to look after & you will get your rent paid, weather payments, a new car to run around in, all paid for by people in work. I can think of better ways to spend our tax monies then on people like that!!