14th February 2008
Curry kitchens feel the heat
Britain's curry houses will face a staffing crisis if the government does not ease restrictions on Bangladeshi migrant workers, an immigration charity warned ministers yesterday.
The Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) wrote that the new points-based system which limits entry of lower-skilled immigrants from outside the European Union is hampering the industry.
Workers from Bangladesh make up the majority of kitchen staff in Indian restaurants. According to the IAS, at least 27,500 additional people are currently needed to avert high street curry houses closing down across the country.
Government attempts to encourage Eastern Europeans to fill the positions would fail because they "have no cultural sensitivity" towards the industry, IAS chief executive Keith Best told immigration minister Liam Byrne.
Mr Byrne insisted earlier this month that the points system is a key part of the "huge shake-up" to UK border security this year. "The points system means only those migrants Britain needs can come to the UK," he said.
"We know that migrants contributed to our economy to the tune of £6 billion to GDP in 2006," he added. "A strong system for highly skilled migrants is vital to Britain winning these benefits because these migrants are well-educated and pay lots of tax."
The caution comes following the announcement of a series of training events for business owners on hiring foreign workers legitimately. Organised by the British Chambers of Commerce, the seminars aim to help firms understand visa fees and applications, biometric visas and the points-based system.
The Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) wrote that the new points-based system which limits entry of lower-skilled immigrants from outside the European Union is hampering the industry.
Workers from Bangladesh make up the majority of kitchen staff in Indian restaurants. According to the IAS, at least 27,500 additional people are currently needed to avert high street curry houses closing down across the country.
Government attempts to encourage Eastern Europeans to fill the positions would fail because they "have no cultural sensitivity" towards the industry, IAS chief executive Keith Best told immigration minister Liam Byrne.
Mr Byrne insisted earlier this month that the points system is a key part of the "huge shake-up" to UK border security this year. "The points system means only those migrants Britain needs can come to the UK," he said.
"We know that migrants contributed to our economy to the tune of £6 billion to GDP in 2006," he added. "A strong system for highly skilled migrants is vital to Britain winning these benefits because these migrants are well-educated and pay lots of tax."
The caution comes following the announcement of a series of training events for business owners on hiring foreign workers legitimately. Organised by the British Chambers of Commerce, the seminars aim to help firms understand visa fees and applications, biometric visas and the points-based system.
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