People from other countries from Africa and Asia, which are much more underdeveloped and backward than Bangladesh, are coming to Britain and getting work. They come to Britain on care visa, work permit and student visas and adapt to the lifestyle here. But Bangladeshis are in danger. Especially in the field of getting a job, the newly arrived Bangladeshis are facing endless irony.
Victims and their families, lawyers, community leaders and immigration consultants talk to Daily Dazzling Dawn about their experiences while searching for the reasons behind this. Many have also spoken about the lack of cooperation in the Bangladeshi community here towards the newly arrived Bangladeshis in various fields, including the opportunity to rent a house and get Job. Lack of UK work experience, limited understanding of the UK job market and no professional networks are also the issues.
Zia Rahman is a resident of Nabiganj Habiganj. He was the spouse for his wife's care visa. Zia and his wife came to London four months ago. He told to Daily Dazzling Dawn, the main reason why Bangladeshis come to this country on work visas and do not get work is lack of work skills and experience. Most of those coming from Bangladesh on care visas have no work experience in the healthcare sector. Many are bringing experience certificates from different clinics and hospitals to get visas. Without work experience, even if you get a visa with just an experience certificate, you cannot find work after coming to this country. Because a care home cannot provide work for someone without the minimum work and language skills required as a caregiver. In many areas, even relatives who have lived in the country for a long time, cannot cooperate with newly arrived Bangladeshis in the field of work outside the restaurant sector.
Ahmad Bakht Chowdhury Roton, head of the Immigration consultation organization
Study Aid, said that in the field of going abroad, just wanting to get by in any way, the mindset of looking for a shot-cart system, reluctance to acquire work skills, lack of long-term planning are the ironies of new immigrant Bangladeshis in different countries. Even after 50 years of independence, it is also a big reason that quality institutions have not been formed in the country at any level to acquire professional skills.
Mr. Iqbal Hossain, the barrister of Chancery Solicitors in London, said that overnight after the launch of care visas, a class of care homeowners and their brokers started the business of human trafficking from various countries including Bangladesh to Britain through the loophole of the law. A care home owner who needs five staff, brings in forty staff. Again there are workers who are not trained to give care, do not have the slightest idea. They don't even understand the British people they care for. The Home Office should have checked or confirmed the competence of the person coming on a care visa as a worker from the outset.
Thousands of workers who have come to Britain after spending thousands of pounds and are unemployed are spending their days in unbearable misery, among them there are at least a few thousand Bangladeshis, who are in fear of visa cancellation due to not getting work. The same is true for other work visas.
Luton's social worker and Journalist Mahbubul Karim Sued said, our people just want to enter any good country by any means. There is no preparation for what to do in the country.
Last year only thirty thousand workers from India, 18 thousand from Nigeria and 17 thousand from Zimbabwe came to Britain on care visa. Thousands of care workers from different African countries are coming to this country every year. Most of them are employed. Because their job skills are language skills.
It costs £25,000 to get a care visa from Bangladesh through our local brokers. But people from other countries can come for much less money.
Our people have been spending 20 to 25 thousand pounds without thinking about anything for care home visa in England. But the employer is not able to give work, so many Bangladeshis are now living inhuman life in this country. In addition, the British government has made a new law if an employer gives work to an illegal worker, immigration will fine the employee five forty thousand pounds (£45,000). Earlier it was fifteen thousand pounds, now it has tripled to 45 thousand pounds. The owners are not giving work even at half wages for fear of fines.
So those who are coming from Bangladesh should come with proper work permit. You must have a job in a real company that will issue you a work permit.
Apart from those who are coming on a care home work permit, no care home company can take money from anyone according to British law. The companies themselves spend two hundred pounds and give the work permit for free as per law. Care workers must actually know how to drive and understand and speak English and must know all the work of a carer professionally. Otherwise, you will not get work by coming here.