"Support Migrant Workers, Stop Persecuting Employers" read the banner that hung heavily above the heads of the members of the Chinese Immigration Concerns Committee (CICC).  During their first quarter update meeting at Harbour City Restaurant in London Chinatown on April 3^rd 2008, the CICC spoke to its members and the press in regards to what it has accomplished since its establishment, along with the next steps that need to be taken their fight for Chinese migrant workers in the UK.

With a call to arms starting back in January, the CICC has been leading the cause against proposed immigration policies that would further intensify the shortages that UK Chinese catering is currently facing. Shortages in Chinese catering will most likely persist if Chinese kitchen and table service workers are not placed on the "Shortage Occupation List" (SOL) produced by the Migrant Advisory Committee (MAC) each year.

At the top of the press conference, it was announced that the CICC, along with members of the Bangladeshi and Indian communities, who are also contending with worker shortages, will be joining forces for an "Ethnic Catering Communities United Day of Action". This Day of Action protest will be held in Central London on April 20^th 2008 from 12:00 to 15:30.

This would mark the first time that the Chinese, Bangladeshi and Indian communities have come together to demonstrate for inclusion on the SOL and against MAC's proposal, which would require incoming migrant workers to speak college entry level English before they even enter the UK. Such a requirement, especially in relation to Chinese catering, would further prevent Chinese catering employers from recruiting qualified workers from abroad.

As Chinese employers continually endure hardships caused by their inability to fill these vacancies, some have turned to pricey legal schemes that claim to be able to protect them legally, even if they were to employ undocumented workers without work permits.  In light of these recent legal schemes, CICC vice chair Bobby Chan cautioned employers to tread carefully and to not fall for promises of legal protection that may be unsubstantiated or simply false.   

"Even if these schemes were to truly temporarily protect you, what could the repercussions be," Chan asked CICC members to consider. As the CICC has spoken to a leading immigration lawyer, Ms Christa Fielden, about these schemes, Chan pointed out that through the meeting it was concluded that if these schemes were to work any migrant worker could come into the United Kingdom or European Union and be able to be employed without a work permit.  

"What do believe your [employers]chances are that the United Kingdom and European government will allow you to succeed in doing this," Chan asked of his members. "I believe the chances are very unlikely."

In response to these growing concerns, the CICC has invited Ms. Fielden to give a talk about these legal schemes for the benefit of both CICC members and non-members on April 15^th at China City at Oriental City.

The rest of the briefing was devoted to a presentation on what the CICC has been able to accomplish and has set into motion in the past three months since its creation. Most notably it highlighted the efforts of CICC research projects, which have included gathering information in London Chinatown about labour shortages from Job Centre Plus, along with questionnaires and in-depth interviews.

Answering MAC's call for evidence on workers shortage in the Chinese catering community, as of this date the CICC has been able to collect over 400 questionnaires from Chinese catering businesses with a goal of acquiring at least 500. The CICC are confident that this research will show that Chinese catering workers are not only skilled workers, but there is also indeed a labour shortage and therefore it is necessary to bring in migrant workers to fill these job vacancies.

CICC's engagement with the BIA was also acknowledged, as the CICC has aggressively campaigned its position by meeting with the Immigration Minister Liam Bryne, lobbying MPs, and participating in the parliamentary process through groups such as the Migration All Parties Parliamentary Group. In submitting a proposal directly to the BIA, the CICC hopes to enable Chinese catering workers, who are otherwise pending for removal from the country, be allowed to work. As they continue to participate vigorously in the affected communities, the CICC is covering all of its bases in its efforts to hopefully replenish and revive the UK Chinese catering industry.

 

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