News In Focus
1 May 2008
Own-language legal advice online for migrants
Glasgow's Govan Law Centre has launched an online law and money advice service aimed at Scotland’s migrant workers.
The joint initiative with Govan Money Matters will be available in five languages – Polish, Russian, Slovakian, Romanian and English. It will use the latest IT technology, including an online virtual adviser who can communicate in audio in five languages, and provision for real time advice surgeries online.
The free service provides advice on Scots law topics such as housing law, private sector tenancies and deposits, debt, diligence and going to court; and UK topics such as social security, employment rights, discrimination and abuse at work, and residency rights for EU workers.
Govan Law Centre’s principal solicitor Mike Dailly said: “We are delighted to launch this free resource for Scotland's migrant workers, who are all too often subject to exploitation and rip-offs because they don't understand their rights in Scotland.
“Through our partnership work with Govanhill Housing Association and others we aim to deliver a new community law centre for Govanhill, with free money advice services delivered by Govan Money Matters.”
The precise number of migrant workers in Scotland is not known, although the vast majority of migrant workers in Glasgow are Polish (70%).
The website can be found at: www.glasgowpomoc.com . "Pomoc" is Polish for "help".