Multilingual workforce
General
Migrant Workers' Rights and Responsibilities
The UK Government wants to ensure that migrant workers coming to the UK are aware of their rights and responsibilities. Therefore, the Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) has produced information leaflets in various languages.
To find out more click here
Advice from the Home Office
The Home Office provides information on sponsorship, preventing illegal working, support for employers and a series of resources and tools.
Click here to access this information and resources.
Health & Safety
The Heath & Safety Executive (HSE) has a number of translated documents on the issue of Health & Safety. "Your Health, your Safety: a guide for workers" is translated into a number of languages, together with a range of industry specific documents.
The HSE also operates a telephone interpreting service covering over a hundred different languages. To use the service, contact Infoline on 0845 345 0055, and tell the operator which language you wish to speak. The operator will then arrange for an interpreter to be connected into the telephone line within a minute or so, and you will be able to continue your enquiry in your own language.
Cultural Diversity
Embracing Cultural Diversity
B&Q have produced a very thorough brochure on cultural diversity in the workplace, with brief information on minority ethnic and religious cultures and a calendar of festivals and celebrations.
www.multicultural-matters.com gives a month by month diary of 'this month's' and 'next month's' festivals.
www.multifaithnet.org provides information about different faiths.
Intercultural Competence
Intercultural competence enables you to interact both effectively and in a way that is acceptable to others when you are working in a group whose members have different cultural backgrounds. A framework of competences can be found at www.incaproject.org
Sectors / Case Studies
Language in the Construction industry: Communicating with Second Language Speakers
The report, published in March 2004, provides a snapshot of how native English speakers and second language speakers communicate in the workplace, identifies good practice and suggests how the construction industry might continue to promote effective operational communications in the context of health and safety.
In addition to the report, a 'Simple Guide to Clearer Communication' has been produced which highlights issues on this subject relevant to the industry sector. Download "Simple Guide to Communication"
Heathrow Talking to the World
This language skills audit conducted in 2004 looked at Heathrow Airport's current use of its multi-lingual employees and suggested actions to further develop its workforce.
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