Thousands of workers from Bradford's developing Polish community are to benefit from a new initiative to protect their employment rights.

Trade Union Amicus estimates that there are around 7,500 Polish people in Bradford and hopes to help any workers with difficulties they may have as they settle into life in the UK.

More than 150 people attended a drop-in event to give advice and information to people on housing, health care, financial services and employment rights.

The event, at Bradford Resource Centre in Little Germany, was the first of its kind in the UK and is expected to be rolled out in other UK cities.

Amicus official Ray Jones, one of the organisers, said: "It was a very successful event and we now intend to hold two or three more sessions to build on what we have done.

"We know that around 50 Polish people are arriving in the UK each day and there are going to be lots of issues these people will face.

"We want to make sure they can get any help they need and they know what rights they are entitled to.

"Usually we approach people in the workplace but this was different in that we actually approached an actual community.

"We have been approached by a couple of Polish workers over issues such as them not getting holiday pay and we have taken steps to resolve this."

Most Polish migrants find work through recruitment agencies and most are at the bottom end of the employment spectrum.

Graham Goddard, Amicus deputy general secretary, said: "We are sending a message to the Polish community and other workers who have arrived from eastern Europe that they have rights and they are not alone.

"We hope this event will be the first of many. Amicus is aware that any recent arrivals to the UK work in low-paid industries and are vulnerable to exploitation by rogue employers.

"A modern and progressive union can make a huge difference to the rights of migrant workers in the UK."

e-mail: mark.casci@bradford.newsquest.co.uk