Discrimination towards Ethnic Minorities in Britain

"UK ni macam kena serang dengan orang Middle Eastla...."

"Aku datang UK ke datang ke Pakistan ni?"

"Apsal gi mana-mana je nampak muka orang Bangladesh dengan Pakistan?"

Ini antara kata-kata yang pernah saya dengar atau mungkin pernah saya ucapkan sepanjang berkelana di bumi UK.For all Malaysian students in UK,particularly in Nottingham;pernahkah anda terfikir akan jawapan kepada segala persoalan dan pernyataan di atas?Seriously,I have never thought that the community in Britan are more multi-cultural than Malaysia.Based on my observation and readings,these ethnic minorities are predominantly constituted by Pakistanis and Bangladeshis.It may seems trivial to others,but I somehow perceive that it is rather interesting (at least to me) to dig out the reason behind the 'kebanjiran' of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis in UK,and understand more about the population structure and their positions in the British society.So,sesiapa yang berminat untuk mengetahui akan hal ini,boleh teruskan pembacaan anda.

Brief History

In early 1950s,British labour market are acutely short of labour.This is due to the Second World War which involves a majority of the world nations including Great Britain.As a result,the British government encouraged migration from the Indian sub-continent and the Carribean islands to replace their people whom had been killed during the war in the labour market.The mass migration had continued until The 1962 Commonwealth Immigrations Act barred free entry of new workers from British Commanwealth except for family reunion purposes (Phizacklea and Ram,1995).


Current Condition of British Labour Market

According to a survey carried out by Labour Force Survey 2006,more than one in 10 working age people in Great Britain are of an ethnic minority background.Over two thirds of all working age ethnic minorities are concentrated in London, West Midlands Metropolitan, East Midlands, West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, with 44% concentrated in London alone.So,this may answer some of your question,of why there is too many of Pakistanis and Bangaldeshis concentrated in certain places particularly in London.Unfortunately,it is reported that 12% of ethnic minority people are unemployed (ILO unemployment), compared with only 5% of whites. In this case the Pakistani women being the group that are most likely to be unemployed (25%) compared to the rest ethnicity.


Discrimination

Evidently,ethnic minorities especially Pakistanis dan Bangladeshis suffer the most ethnic discrimination in Britain in the labour market.Lindley(2002) suggests that non-white Muslims in Great Britain may be suffering double discrimination:for being from an ethnic minority group and for being Muslim.Conflicts between Asian and the Whites and the police escalated into riots in summer 1991 in northern town of England(ni ala-ala tragedi 13 Mei 1969) .The report by the Home Office clearly identified that Islamophobia as a problem in Oldham,Burnley and Bradford,and it is the source of the conflict that I have mentioned above.

Ethnic minorities are also subject to prejudice and stereotyping due to lack of understanding on religious and culture practices.For instance:

1. Assuming that muslims may not be as productive as a result of religous practice,including frequent requirement for time off prayer or during Ramadhan .
2. The women being repeatedly questioned by their managers about forced marriages and when she is going to have to get married .
3. Some employers may adopt Becker 1957 taste theory which suggest that employers are willing to pay wage premium to avoid the so-called 'undesirable groups'.
4. Ethnic minorities are competitive threat to the majority group (whites) in the labour market because they are taking away the latter's job and driving the wages down (it's not necessarily true based on some research).

Although discrimination are illegal,but they are still much alived nowadays (Let's reflect on Malaysia too).So,since they are now have disadvantaged on being ethnic minorities in labour market,what are their choices and futures?The policies enforced by the Governement such as Race Relation Act 1976,Race Relation (Ammendment) Act 2000,and Race Relation (Ammendment) Act 2003 are weak and maybe ignored by the employers.There are 61% of the British companies adopt equal opportunities policies;nonetheless,less than half of the companies introduce the equal opportunities practice to back up the policies.Sadly,equal opportunity policies remain low priority for the companies.The main concern for most of the companies are maximizing profit not morality.

Nak dipendekkan cerita,what is left to the ethnic minorities in Britain,particularly Bangladeshis and Pakistanis?Probably,this is some of the factors that answers why there are many of them involve in business such as restaurant,supermarket or taxi company.Their positions in the labour market are unlikely to improve in the future if they work 'makan gaji only especially dengan institutionalised discrimination which has embedded in the company.Besides,if I am not mistaken, Rasulullah SAW pernah menegaskan bahawa perniagaan mempunyai kedudukan yang tinggi di sisi Allah SWT. Sabda Rasulullullah “Sembilan persepuluh sumber rezeki (boleh diperoleh) melalui perniagaan,” (HR Tirmizi).

Child workers in Bangladesh.Susahnya nak cari rezeki...
Have we say our thanks to Allah today for being able to go to school and take exams?

Rights and Justice

I always believe that humans deserve respect and they are entitled to certain basic rights.It is important to value the differences among us by recognizing the uniqueness,strengths and weaknesses of one another so that everyone will feel welcomed,appreciated and strongly united.I know people are afraid of differences and changes,something which are rather different (read:peculiar) from their norms and values.But that doesn't justify our action not to give equal treatment to others.Apetah lagi keadilan sangat-sangat dititikberatkan dalam Islam.

I still remember a true story of Mr Porma who suffered routine abusement by his foremen and team leaders;just because he is a Pakistani.Once,he opened his sealed pay packet to find the word 'Paki' scrawling inside.Tak masuk lagi cerita bagaimana dia diseksa ditempat kerja,dimaki hamun,dibuli dan diugut bunuh.Geram sungguh!This is an extreme cases though and I think it's quite rare now.Hopefully kita semua boleh mengambil pengajaran daripada sikap yang tak senonoh ini.I don't agree with some of us to address a Pakistani as "Paki "or "Kipa/s " atau apa-apa sahaja yang mengikut pendapat saya,boleh menimbulkan ketidaksenangan pada hati mereka.I personally think that ianya berbaur diskriminasi,lebih-lebih apabila setelah saya mempelajari module Human Resource Management dan Business Ethics. di universiti.So,elakkanlah kata-kata ataupun perbuatan yang berunsur perkauman.Tak penting pun warna kulit,rambut,race,ethnicity,or nationalities di sisi Allah.The most honoured among us,is the most pious,dan ianya boleh dicerminkan melalui perbuatan seharian kita.

Wallahualam.


PS:Sebenarnya,penulisan ini adalah gara-gara saya baru sahaja usai exam Business Ethics dan Human Resource Management II,hehe!Moga bermanfaat.


Rujukan:

• Tackey et al (2006):Barriers to Employment for Pakistanis and Bangladeshis in Britain.
• Crane and Matten(2007):Business Ethics:A European Perspective.
• Beardwell and Claydon(2007):Human Resource Management:A Contemporary Approach.