I refer to the article written by Ratnakar K Naik, I disagree with him that workers from other poor EU countries have affected employment. In fact some have contributed to the construction companies in a big way. As in Goa so do in Britain not many Goans do carpentering, construction work, labour work and domestics in Goa. If one has work in the fields it is their Indian brethren from other states who do the jobs. Most of our Goans work abroad. One thing to be noted is most of our Goans in Goa have build beautiful houses and bungalows. They all have left the shores of Goa and made United Kingdom their destination. Believe it or not the cost of rent in the UK is very high, these very Goans live in bad conditions. If those who retired and can afford to relax in their beautiful houses prefer to come here, citing that they have come here because of the future of their children. There has been benefit cuts too and this has affected the locals. Their way of life has been affected.
Though the migrants have taken low paid jobs they have contributed to the economy of the country but some only want to make use of the benefit system, where they get housing. If one is an asylum seeker one gets housing and other benefits first. The government says if you are earning you can stay in rented houses but you are not entitled to council flats. The locals don’t take this lightly. We in Goa do not like what is happening in Goa saying all the facilities are given to outsiders.
What has triggered the British people to vote to leave is not about migrant labour only. It is about the benefits system many of the EU migrants come with their family and obtain child benefits, once they get into the system they sent their families back where the cost of living is cheaper. Another aspect is the state run NHS, since the recession there have been many cuts in running of the NHS, many have lost their jobs. The waiting list for operations has increased heavily.
My only cause of concern is why the retired Goans want to leave their homeland to live in bad conditions in the UK.
