CAJI seminar: Book launch - Low-Paid EU Migrant Workers: The House, The Street, The Town

On 25 September 2024, ARU's Centre for Access to Justice and Inclusion (CAJI), in collaboration with the Inter-University Migration Network and the Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) at Middlesex University, hosted an insightful seminar to launch the book Low-Paid EU Migrant Workers: The House, The Street, The Town.

This book, authored by Fiona Costello, Prof Catherine Barnard, and Sarah Fraser Butlin, is an important study on the lives of low-paid EU migrant workers in the post-Brexit, post-pandemic context of Great Yarmouth, a small town on the Norfolk coast. The event was chaired by Prof Eleonore Kofman and featured a stimulating discussion led by Dr Eglė Dagilytė.

Introducing the book and its research journey

The seminar commenced with an overview of the book by one of the co-authors, Fiona Costello. She described how the book emerged from a three-year research project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to explore the lived experiences of EU migrant workers in Great Yarmouth. Situated on the Norfolk coast, Great Yarmouth has been significantly impacted by migration, with the town seeing a 200% increase in its migrant population following the accession of new member states to the EU after 2004.

The research, which took place during the turbulence of Brexit and the unexpected challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed to examine not only the (legal) problems EU nationals faced, but also how they resolved these issues in their daily lives. By partnering with a local charity, Gyros, the researchers were able to gain insights into the role of community-based, street-level support for these workers.

The research methods were diverse and inclusive. The team conducted over 30 interviews and 10 focus groups with EU nationals, many of whom did not speak English, making language support a crucial part of the process.

The study’s ethnographic approach allowed the researchers to immerse themselves in the community, with Fiona living in a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) alongside other EU migrants. This experience provided a deeply personal view of the day-to-day struggles faced by these workers, many of whom were employed in local chicken factories under precarious conditions.

The House, The Street, The Town

One of the book’s key contributions is its detailed exploration of the physical and social environments in which these migrant workers live and work. The title, The House, The Street, The Town, refers to the geographical focus of the study, with the authors concentrating on one particular street in Great Yarmouth, St. Peter’s Road, where many migrants reside.

Fiona shared stories from her time living in an HMO with eight EU nationals from Lithuania and Latvia. The house was in disrepair, with no central heating, broken windows, black mould in the bathroom, and unfinished construction work. The precarious living conditions mirrored the precarious nature of the tenants' employment and legal status. This ethnographic approach brought to light the intimate and challenging aspects of migrant life that are often overlooked in more traditional studies of migration.

The town of Great Yarmouth itself is an interesting case study in migration. Historically a port town, it has seen various waves of migration, from Scottish herring girls to the more recent arrival of EU migrants. Yet, it is also a town that voted overwhelmingly to leave the EU during the Brexit referendum, creating a complex backdrop for the study of EU nationals living and working there.

Gyros: a key community partner

A central element of the research was the partnership with Gyros, a community advice charity offering multilingual services to migrants in Great Yarmouth. Through Gyros, the researchers were able to access a wealth of data spanning from 2015 to 2020, which allowed them to analyse the kinds of problems EU migrants were bringing to the charity for help. Gyros provided practical, on-the-ground support for migrants dealing with a range of legal, social, and economic issues.

One of the key findings from the Gyros dataset was the phenomenon of "problem clustering", where individuals were often dealing with multiple issues at once. Common problems included employment disputes, housing issues, debt, and navigating the complex UK welfare system.

Gyros acted as a one-stop shop for these individuals, helping them with a variety of issues simultaneously. This multi-directional, multidisciplinary approach stood in contrast to the more siloed approach of traditional legal advice services, where individuals are directed to different specialists depending on their problem (e.g., family law, employment law, etc.).

Pragmatic law: a new theoretical framework

One of the most interesting theoretical contributions of the book is the concept of "pragmatic law." This term was coined to describe the way in which legal problems are resolved without going through formal legal channels, such as the courts. The research found that many EU migrants were able to resolve their issues at the street level through the assistance of Gyros, without ever having to engage with the formal legal system.

This pragmatic approach to law reflects the reality that many migrants face: they often lack the resources, language skills, and knowledge to navigate the UK’s formal legal system. Instead, they turn to community organisations like Gyros, which offer early intervention and practical problem-solving. Gyros staff, while not legally trained, often helped clients with complex legal issues, particularly around housing, employment, and welfare benefits.

The idea of pragmatic law challenges traditional notions of access to justice, which are often focused on the formal legal system and the courts. Instead, the book argues that access to justice should be understood more broadly, encompassing the everyday, informal ways in which people resolve their problems.

Key questions and discussions

Following Fiona’s presentation, Eglė provided her reflections on the book. Drawing on her own background as a Lithuanian, and her research on EU citizenship and migration, she praised the book for its original contribution to the literature on access to justice. She particularly appreciated the way the authors brought together different strands of literature – law, sociology, anthropology – to offer a nuanced understanding of the lived experiences of EU migrant workers.

Eglė raised several thought-provoking questions during the discussion. She asked about the risks and benefits of the pragmatic law approach, noting that while it offers a practical solution for migrants, it may also prioritise individual problem-solving over addressing systemic issues. She also inquired about the challenges the authors faced in making the book open access, a critical issue for academics and the general public alike.

Catherine responded to these questions with candour, acknowledging the intellectual and practical challenges of writing the book. She highlighted the importance of telling the stories of low-paid migrant workers, whose experiences are often overshadowed by the narratives of professional migrants taking advantage of EU free movement rights.

She also elaborated on the concept of pragmatic law, explaining that it was born out of necessity, as many of the migrants in the study did not have other options for resolving their problems.

Lessons for academic lawyers and the legal profession

One of the key takeaways from the book is its relevance to academic lawyers and the legal profession.

The authors argue that the legal profession, particularly those working in housing, immigration, and employment law, can learn from the pragmatic, community-based approach exemplified by Gyros. The focus on early intervention and practical problem-solving could help alleviate the pressures on the formal legal system, especially in areas that are traditionally underserved, such as rural communities like Great Yarmouth, known as "advice deserts".

Additionally, the book raises important questions about the future of access to justice in the UK. As community advice organisations continue to face funding cuts and increasing demand for their services, there is a pressing need to rethink how legal advice is delivered, particularly to vulnerable and marginalised groups like EU migrant workers who are in the increasing danger of falling into the hands of "advice sharks".

Closing remarks

The seminar provided an insightful and engaging discussion on a critical issue facing the UK in the aftermath of Brexit and the pandemic. The book offers a fresh perspective on migration, access to justice, and the role of community-based support in helping vulnerable groups navigate the complexities of the UK’s legal system.

By focusing on the lived experiences of low-paid migrant workers in a town like Great Yarmouth, and by using empirical socio-legal methods to investigate issues, the authors have made an important contribution to our understanding of law, migration, and justice in contemporary Britain.

As the discussion concluded, it was clear that the book has sparked important debates not only among academics but also within the broader legal and advisory community. It serves as a reminder that access to justice is not just about the courts, but also about the everyday, informal ways in which people solve their problems – often with the help of community organisations like Gyros.

Dr Sebastian Smart, Research Fellow, School of Economics, Finance and Law