Government must support Commonwealth citizens

24 September 2006

Government is warned not to close the employment routes for black and Asian Commonwealth citizens who remain essential to the UK's economy.

Chairing the joint IAS/JCWI meeting at the Labour Party Conference on Monday 25 September 2006 at the Castlefield Hotel, Manchester at 6.30pm on "How can we ensure that immigration policy is free of discrimination and aids international development?" at which speakers were Jack Dromey of the T&G union, Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, Rob Evans MEP chair of Labour MEPs, the High Commissioner for Bangladesh His Excellency Mr. Sabihuddin Ahmed and Habib Rahman Chief Executive of JCWI, Keith Best Chief Executive of IAS said:

"The new points based system may simplify immigration for work but it will damage race relations and our historic links with the Commonwealth if it is seen as us expecting all our lower skilled labour to come from the EU (as stated by Charles Clarke) and not from Commonwealth countries which traditionally have provided people for the ethnic restaurant businesses which are a backbone of British culture and employment."

"Although it is important to have closer links and harmonisation with Europe we shall damage our international interests and influence in the world if we turn our backs on the Commonwealth countries. Remittances now exceed official development aid. DfID spends billions of pounds on the development of such countries but where is the joined-up Government which will give fiscal advantages to expatriates who want to invest their money not just in consumerism back home but in developing industries and the infrastructure of their countries of origin."

"It is an insult to lower skilled workers to tell them under the new system that they can never win the right of residence in the UK: that must change. The Government seems unable to comprehend that the lower skilled learn many skills during their time in the UK and become valuable members of staff whom employers wish to retain. The interchange of labour is of enormous benefit to both host country and country of origin - it is the way in which mutual understanding between peoples is built. The Government should realise that"