Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Unflip

1 2

Original poster

To think that, in general, some of the hardest working people in the world are migrants?

39 replies

TheMellowExpert · 04/10/2025 20:19

I’ve noticed that in many industries - healthcare, hospitality, construction, delivery, cleaning, you name it, it’s often migrant workers doing the hardest jobs, with the longest hours and the least recognition. Whether they’ve moved for better opportunities, are supporting family back home or just trying to build a new life, their work ethic is honestly on another level. I know it’s not everyone and of course there are hardworking people from all backgrounds but AIBU to think migrants, as a group, are often doing the work others won’t and getting little thanks for it?

OP posts:

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 04/10/2025 21:17

They aren’t coming here to do jobs no one wants out the goodness of their hearts. If someone is doing a badly paid job it’s because they have little choice- migrant or not. It’s also thanks to said cheap labour force that living standards get lower and facilitate corporations, multi millionaires to take from people.

Libellousness · 04/10/2025 21:16

No - I’ve met incredibly hardworking people from both migrant and non-migrant backgrounds. I’ve also met incredibly lazy people from both groups. These virtue-signalling generalisations help no one.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 04/10/2025 21:14

No- I’m sick of the stereotypes in both directions. I work with people who do 12-19hr days most days- they’re handsomely rewarded but they work hard.

Simonjt · 04/10/2025 21:14

Lazy people tend not to migrate, moving to another country is hard, you need to be driven and have a good work ethic just to sort the actual move. You are also judged much more harshly, so you have to do more than others otherwise you’re put in the slacker category.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 04/10/2025 21:14

Luddite26 · 04/10/2025 21:10

Only not quite all of us are working. Many sit on benefits thinking menial jobs below them . Then complain about migrants.

Show quote history

I meant the same way some of us are working hard and some aren't.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 04/10/2025 21:10

AIBU to think migrants, as a group, are often doing the work others won’t and getting little thanks for it?

I voted YABU because the narrative that migrants do the work that others (meaning snobby or lazy brits) won’t do is utterly absurd.

It doesn’t sound like you are concerned about worker exploitation to me.

Luddite26 · 04/10/2025 21:10

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 04/10/2025 21:04

Some are.

Some aren't.

And they are not working for thanks and glory, they work for money, they same way all of us do.

Edited

Only not quite all of us are working. Many sit on benefits thinking menial jobs below them . Then complain about migrants.

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 04/10/2025 21:08

MidlandsGal1 · 04/10/2025 21:01

This.

A good 75% of my workplace staff are migrants, they work hard because they have to in order to support not only themselves but family members back in their home country. Don’t get me wrong not all of them are hard workers, a good proportion are useless but that also applies to the British workers

Show quote history

Remittances. Many such cases of the UK economy propping up other countries. It's a very good way to choke off our economy. Money is supposed to go back in, not leak out.

I know. How very anti-globohomo of me to have that opinion.

MrsLizzieDarcy · 04/10/2025 21:07

We wouldn't need to import foreign labour if we weren't paying workshy Brits to have a working equivalent lifestyle on benefits...

Pineconesandpetals · 04/10/2025 21:06

Of course and yes, that is absolutely my experience. But that truth doesn’t work for Reform, nor for anyone who somehow believes they deserve “more” for the unearned privilege of being born here.

Sirzy · 04/10/2025 21:05

And this is why we need to have a system where those who are claiming assylum are processed quickly and allowed to work and contribute if found to have a valid claim