Reply to: So where is the campaign to move our accounts away from Lloyds?

[TimberWolf]

Or alternatively accept that New Labour have no interest/respect for technology, services, freelancing, self employment in the UK and move on with life.

I did that 10 years ago, though was leaning more towards accepting that they had it in for IT from the beginning.

[minestrone]

If they cut onshoring tomorrow I wonder how many roles would be freed up.

If they do scrap it I wonder how much of Bob's code I will then be asked to maintain for the next decade.

[HairyArsedBloke]

Or alternatively accept that New Labour have no interest/respect for technology, services, freelancing, self employment in the UK and move on with life.

Aye.

NuLieBore, Conservatives, or any other party

[DimPrawn]

Or alternatively accept that New Labour have no interest/respect for technology, services, freelancing, self employment in the UK and move on with life.

[TimberWolf]

Guys, I'm a little late to this party but I have an idea and I'd like your thoughts.

We all know the gov won't do anything that even remotely goes towards being seen as protectionism.

Instead of fighting to keep foreign, cheaper workers out we should think about focussing our efforts on demanding the government play their part in making British contractors as competitive as the 'global workforce'.

After all, a large part of the corporate attraction to foreign workers is that they're cheaper. And they're cheaper partly because the living costs in their home countries are lower. Surely, British workers should not be 'punished' because the living costs in their home countries are higher so they need to earn more to make ends meet.

So, I am thinking that instead of pushing the gov to keep Indians out, we should give them a choice: a) keep the Indians out OR b) play a part in making the local workers a bit more competitive.

The government need to think about all the things that make Indian workers cost effective and actively try to bring some of those benefits to the UK workforce. Off the top of my head, things like taxes on income, fuel, savings, even utility bills need to be rethought.

The reality is the UK does not have much in the way of natural resources, commodities or any specialist industries. In fact, aside from its colonial heritage and the world-wide reputation it has built up over the past centuries (and is now reliant upon), there is nothing that really makes this country vital in the global economy. Even our education system which has been held in high-regard is now poor if you consider it to the standards in most other developed countries. We'll all have to get used to living on less - and that includes Mr Brown & Nu Labia.

It wouldn't be so bad if this offshore/inshore situation was reflected in and affected all professions more equally. The government should do more to try to ensure other professions are equally decimated.

[JaredM]

Guys, I'm a little late to this party but I have an idea and I'd like your thoughts.

We all know the gov won't do anything that even remotely goes towards being seen as protectionism.

Instead of fighting to keep foreign, cheaper workers out we should think about focussing our efforts on demanding the government play their part in making British contractors as competitive as the 'global workforce'.

After all, a large part of the corporate attraction to foreign workers is that they're cheaper. And they're cheaper partly because the living costs in their home countries are lower. Surely, British workers should not be 'punished' because the living costs in their home countries are higher so they need to earn more to make ends meet.

So, I am thinking that instead of pushing the gov to keep Indians out, we should give them a choice: a) keep the Indians out OR b) play a part in making the local workers a bit more competitive.

The government need to think about all the things that make Indian workers cost effective and actively try to bring some of those benefits to the UK workforce. Off the top of my head, things like taxes on income, fuel, savings, even utility bills need to be rethought.

The reality is the UK does not have much in the way of natural resources, commodities or any specialist industries. In fact, aside from its colonial heritage and the world-wide reputation it has built up over the past centuries (and is now reliant upon), there is nothing that really makes this country vital in the global economy. Even our education system which has been held in high-regard is now poor if you consider it to the standards in most other developed countries. We'll all have to get used to living on less - and that includes Mr Brown & Nu Labia.

[Evil Hangover]

I'm working in a large IB in the city and the place is crawling with Indians.

Worse still, there's now an active policy in place whereby managers need to present a business case as to why UK staff should be considered for new positions (or even renewals), when there are willing Indians chomping at the bit

Depressing isn't it

[malvolio]

Sorry, they're all too busy selling IR35 insurance.

Change the record for Pete's sake. If you can show me a single PCG member that has bought PEI insurance from them, bring it on.

PCG insures itself against the cost of supporting its members in tax inquiries, although that's probably too subtle a distinction for you.

[malvolio]

If the PCG are going to get this campaign to work they have to a wee bit more than produce a web site which hardly anyone on an IT contractor site had seen.

Do they not have a spokesman? Could they get him or her to spend a day doing interviews on the news channels?

This kicked off as a result of the PCG briefing BBC Scotland over the Loyds onshoring scandal. John Brazier did a piece on Working Lunch about a week ago. And we have a permanent seat on the MAC panel that addresses the whole area of visa management. So I guess they have a little bit of a head start.

If you want som more detail, have a look here - http://insidepcg.wordpress.com/

What they're looking for is documented evidence, rather than siomp[le hearsay on the boards. Not too much to ask if you're job's disappearing, is it.

[DimPrawn]

If the PCG are going to get this campaign to work they have to a wee bit more than produce a web site which hardly anyone on an IT contractor site had seen.

Do they not have a spokesman? Could they get him or her to spend a day doing interviews on the news channels?

Sorry, they're all too busy selling IR35 insurance.

[minestrone]

If the PCG are going to get this campaign to work they have to a wee bit more than produce a web site which hardly anyone on an IT contractor site had seen.

Do they not have a spokesman? Could they get him or her to spend a day doing interviews on the news channels?

[MPwannadecentincome]

This is still a cause worth fighting. THere are still a significant proportion of us in jobs, but we are still in danger of losing our own jobs or certainly having our salraies halved or more.

Hear hear!

And the place to start must be with the PGC campaign to stamp out abuse of the current rules.

Then - there is an election coming up....

[DaveB]

my spelling was correct - I was referring to Kemo Sabe's little brother.

[Shimano105]

2,100 jobs going ain't gonna help either...

[PM-Junkie]

Kemo Sabe

my spelling was correct - I was referring to Kemo Sabe's little brother.