CROWDS of Eastern European migrants are pushing a city training centre, which helps the unemployed find work, "close to breaking point".
And its chief executive says the problem will worsen when scores of Romanian and Bulgarian migrants arrive in Derby next year, under new European "freedom of movement" rules.
Normanton-based Jobs, Education and Training, known as JET, has already seen a near-200% rise in visitors, most of them from Eastern Europe, over the course of a year – some of whom have no income and are therefore struggling to find money for food.
And the centre, which supports jobseekers with little English, is so busy that people often queue in the street outside.
Chief executive Mohammed Sharief said the numbers using JET have swelled due to tougher Government rules for when jobseekers can claim benefits.
He said he was "led to believe" up to 1,000 Romanian and Bulgarian immigrants could come to Derby in 2014.
He said he heard this "in meetings about worklessness in the city, involving agencies like JobCentre Plus, the council and other public bodies".
City councillor Ranjit Banwait, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said it was "impossible to quantify the figure at the moment". He added: "We have a fantastic record of assimilating other cultures in Derby."
The situation at JET has forced the cash-strapped city council to give the centre a one-off grant of £15,000.
But its Labour leadership believes the Department for Work and Pensions should have stumped up the cash, as the problem has been caused by the Government's benefits crackdown. Mr Sharief said he was "extremely grateful" but it was "a relatively small amount" given the numbers JET deals with.
He said people were being told that, to qualify for Jobseekers Allowance, they needed to register online with JobCentre Plus so their job searches could be monitored and recorded.
They must also prove they have looked for, and applied for, a certain number of positions and get a book stamped to prove it. JET will stamp the book if they can prove they have "actively looked for employment".
Mr Sharief said: "Without good English, it's work they'd struggle to do anywhere other than JET, where they can get support to find jobs from people who speak their language. That's why people are queuing in the street.
"We're are close to breaking point and, without further funding, our ability to keep providing this service is limited."
Council leader Paul Bayliss said of the £15,000: "We want to ensure people are treated fairly, which is why we are providing the money when it's nothing to do with the council directly. We want the DWP to step up and send some discretionary cash to Derby."
He added: "Desperate people can take desperate measures. That's the worry."
The DWP did not want to comment.
In January 2012, the number of visitors to JET was 993 and, in the same month this year, the figure was 2,852 – most of whom were Eastern European.
Mr Sharief said, typically, on JET's two weekly days dedicated to jobseekers, 170 with few skills and little English are going for 10 manual labour jobs. Mr Sharief said: "We have a good record of finding jobs but only have so many manual labour positions available."
Jobhunters using JET include Radek Kesel, a member of the Roma community who came from the Czech Republic to Derby in 2004. Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Kesel, 26, said he emigrated after "skinheads" attacked him and shouted he "should be killed in a gas chamber" because of his background.
He has been unable to find work since he arrived in the country but said he did not face the same racism. He said: "My benefits stopped because my adviser didn't think I was taking the steps required to get a job. There have been days when I haven't eaten."
*WHAT DO YOU THINK? Have your say on our quick, anonymous poll (above right).