[Angus]

The point being that immigrants who are prepared to work for slave wages are exploited by unscrupulous employers who have no incentive or motivation to ensure they pay a realistic wage for jobs that would enable workers to actually be able to live without having to rely on other state handouts. A minimum wage should be sufficient to enable people to pay their basic living expenses independently, and it should be different across the country to take account of the actual cost of living in different areas.

People, whether immigrants or not, working for slave wages (often illegally, under the counter, cash in hand, whatever) ensure that wages remain ridiculously low, which is the real reason that the black economy is thriving and employers are complacent because they know they can fill any vacancy ten times over. The problem lies with exploitative employers not desperate employees. Penalties for rogue employers need to be far harsher than the slap on the wrist fines most get.