Say No to UKBA Fishing Raids // Tuesday 22nd October from 2pm // Meet at 2 lions statue, Gerrard street, Chinatown, Soho, London Day will include strikes and closures of restaurants and business outlets, press conference, release of lantern and balloon ceremony Over the last two months, Londons Chinatown, an international hub of Chinese restaurants and businesses, has witnessed systematic immigration raids. Over 13 businesses have reported heavy handed raids of their premises. All the existing evidence suggests that the raids were not intelligence led. Some of the raid did not even lead to the arrest of a single individual. Business owners also believe that the raids did not comply with lawful procedures and have only added fuel to negative stereotyping and racial profiling of the Chinese community. Businesses owners can face up to £10,000 fine per person for employing someone who may not have permission to work. This harsh and disproportionate fine can lead to legitimate business closing down, especially when employers do not understand complicate immigration rules. Current government policy has not addressed labour shortages within the catering businesses, enterprises that are key to providing much needed jobs. The effect of this failure has led to a cycle of discriminatory raids and financial penalties against Chinese businesses coupled with the criminalization of Chinese workers. The raids on Chinatown has the same effect as the recent Home Office Go Home or Face Arrest campaign when public concern was raised about its damaging effect of Britains cosmopolitan cities. The London Chinatown Chinese Association and Min Quan have written to the UKBA to raise these concerns and suggested a meeting to resolve the problem.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 22:32:07 +0000
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