LOCAL construction jobs are being put at risk because Polish workers are forcing down prices.

Rae Borras, the boss of Borras Construction Group based in Campfield Road, St Albans, has always employed local people. But now he says he is having to look at the way he runs his business because firms employing Polish labour are undercutting him when tendering for projects.

He said his labour costs would be 20 per cent lower if he employed Polish labour, and added: "There is no doubt that we had a labour shortage in the construction industry and needed around 100,000 trained workers, but the problem is that we have got an extra 200,000 to 400,000.

"The Poles are prepared to work for rates that are higher than they would get in their own country but lower than British workers expect. In addition they are now forming Polish contracting and sub-contracting organisations to compete directly for work"

Mr Borras faces a dilemma of sticking with his existing staff and hoping his customers will be prepared to pay extra because he uses local labour or taking on Polish sub-contractors.

He said: "If I do that I will be forced to lay off people who have worked for me for up to 25 years and, believe me, I don't feel very good about that prospect.

"In the past we have absorbed immigrant workers such as the Italians who moved into the Bedfordshire brick-making industry, and the Irish who largely took over the groundwork business. But in both those cases they did not take over by pushing down prices. We are now facing a very different situation.