A MIGRATION researcher has visited Guernsey to study its Latvian community.
Aija Lulle (pictured) is looking to build a fuller picture of immigration, the labour market and community issues in Guernsey facing Latvian guest workers as part of ongoing research for her PhD dissertation at the University of Latvia.
She has already carried out research on such workers in Ireland, while most recently she helped to draft recommendations for her country’s government in terms of its own migration policy.
‘Guernsey was one of the first places that Latvians came for work outside their country and I’m looking to see how this change has developed over the past 15 years.’
During her visit she has met a number of Latvians working in the island, as well as their employers, the Social Security Department and the Housing Department.
Mrs Lulle has also spoken to islanders to discover what they feel about the impact Latvians have made on the Guernsey community.
‘I’ve never seen anywhere else in the world where the Latvian population is so dense as it is here in Guernsey. You hear the language everywhere.’
Article posted on 20th January, 2010 - 2.30pm
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