London, like most major metropolitan areas, has a very diverse population. While a portion of this is due to tourism, many who reside in London are also from abroad, here for school or work. A closer look at this city’s labor force reveals that many of its positions in the service industry are filled by immigrant workers. Waitresses, store clerks, housekeepers, and cooks are not typically from London — or the UK for that matter. The following are profiles on immigrant workers in London.*
Name: Rahul Shivhare
Age: 22 years
Origin: Gwalior, India
Residence: Westminster, London
Job(s): Student at University of Ulster; Youth Roller Hockey Coach; International Sales Representative at Shahi Food Products
Observations:
Immediately after Uni, Rahul heads over to the local high school to coach roller hockey. Rahul’s always cutting it close, so the kids are excited when he finally shows up — usually a couple minutes late. During the breaks he pulls out his accounting textbook and tries to study, but it’s often interrupted by his players’ various questions and concerns. Once practice is over, he commits to accounting, studying the few units he has left to learn before an exam.
From Home to Here:
Rahul did not like any of the business programs available to him in India, so he decided on the University of Ulster: an Irish university with a good business program and a campus in London. Currently he is the only member of his family who is abroad: his mother, father, and twin brother are back in India. Rahul only gets to see them once or twice a year, so he tries to call them every day. He will go back to see them soon, as he hopes to return to India. Although London is a great place for business connections and education, India has more opportunities for those trying to start out on their own. Technically, he is making more money in London than he would be in India, but it does not go nearly as far.
“Here, you could work a nine-to-five job and make a decent amount of money, but everything is just so expensive; if I were making the same money in India, I would be living a much more comfortable life.”
Working in London:
While he is in London, Rahul is also working to help out his father’s company by facilitating deals with London businesses to bring their products to the English market. They are hoping to have their peanut bars sold in London stores by the end of the year.
This city has provided a multitude of opportunities for him, but he’s uncertain of how long he will stay here. Rahul is in London on a student visa, allowing him to take classes and work a part-time job while in the UK: “It’s easy to get a part time job almost anywhere in the city.” It is not until looking at full-time work that things get a little more complicated. Coming to the UK on a work visa requires the company to sponsor the employee, meaning they have to produce the documents necessary for the visa, so for full-time positions they tend to hire European Union residents rather than immigrants — though that’s not always the case.
Overall, Rahul is happy where he is in his life right now, and a little excited not to know where he may be five years from now.
Life in the Big City:
Rahul loves the city; there is always something for him and his friends to do. He also gets to meet all types of people from a wide array of backgrounds with their own traditions and cultures. He admits that sometimes it is easier to spend time with other people from India, sharing a common language and background, but that does not limit his social group by any means. Rahul is certainly enjoying his time here now, but for him, London is not a place to settle down simply because, “It doesn’t feel like home.”
Name: Abdelilah Nabil
Age: 63
Origin: Rabat, Morocco
Residence: Michtam, Surrey
Job(s): Cook; Chef
Observations:
Very few tend to notice Abdelilah slip through the front door of one of London’s many Student Housing buildings. It is not until they hear the sounds of Spanish radio permeating through the kitchen that they know he has arrived. But his stealth in no way makes him unapproachable. There’s always a slight smile on his face, and he’s usually willing to swap pleasantries and small talk amidst his work. He has even asked for suggestions on what to cook, catering to the house’s specific appetite, and continues to work his way through the list of meals provided. Ultimately he ends up spending two hours in the kitchen alone as residents of the Student Housing are aware how difficult it must be to cook for 19 people and do their best to stay out of his way. When dinner is prepared, he slips out the front door just as silently as he had entered, his work for the day finally over.
From Home to Here:
Abdelilah often visited London on holiday and absolutely loved the city. Though he never expected to make it his permanent residence, after living here for over 25 years, he certainly has made this city his home. He has two sisters and two brothers still in Morocco, but his wife and five children are here with him. He initially left Rabat to study French Literature in Paris, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. Not thoroughly enjoying Paris, he decided to move to London rather than return home. To Abdelilah, London is much more of a subtle city, which allows him to explore its beauties without the extravagance of Paris; he certainly prefers London over Rabat as well, which he claimed was like comparing “chalk to cheese.” That being said, he typically returns home twice a year and thinks that he may one day return to Rabat to retire.
Working in London:
While financial reasons were certainly a motivation for the move, his initial focus when arriving in London was studying. It was here that he learned his fifth language, English, having already learned Spanish, French, Italian, and Arabic. When Abdelilah first arrived in London, he was here on a student visa, which allowed him to work part time. He got a job at a local bakery and after he was done studying, his boss sponsored his work visa and brought him on as a full-time employee. He worked there for a little over a year before opening up his own clothing business that specialized in army attire: vintage captain’s jackets and old American military apparel. He hoped this shop would be his career. That dream was cut short after six years when Virgin Atlantic bought out the entire building and Abdelilah was forced to move out. He responded to this sudden uprooting by taking a vacation back home; he spent two years on the beach, doing nothing but “recharging the batteries.” Now, as he has for the past seven years, he works 8-12 hours a day, five days a week. Monday through Friday he works as a chef at a pub from nine to three, which he immediately follows with cooking for the residents at the Student Housing from three to five. Though he certainly has a larger income here, everything is so expensive in comparison that, in terms of lifestyle, he is making only a little more than what he would make as a cook in Morocco.
Life in the Big City:
At the London Student Housing he works alone, but at the pub, he finds himself primarily working with native Londoners. He spends his free time with those of Italian, Spanish, Moroccan, English, and other backgrounds. He does have free time, because he doesn’t work on weekends, but he wishes he could get out to see more of London — his life always just seems to get in the way. But for now, he is not too concerned, knowing that if he were determined enough, he would be able to find the time to explore the city he loves so much.
Name: Nadia Nemes
Age: 40 years
Origin: Miskolc, Hungary
Residence: Lewisham, London
Job(s): Waitress, Receptionist, Housekeeper
Observations:
When walking in the pub’s dining hall, Nadia is typically found behind the bar. She’ll gesture arriving customers to their tables and will promptly meet them with menus. It is usually then that they notice she is the only one working the floor, serving as host, waitress, and bartender simultaneously. Though she is always very polite, kind, and responsive, she’s not the most outgoing and upbeat waitress, but when working one job that normally takes three people — on top of her other two jobs — it is more than understandable.
From Home to Here:
Nadia came to London to help support her two children: her son is in his second year of college, studying physics at Taras Shevchenko University, and his younger sister will be entering college shortly after he graduates. Nadia left Hungary to search for a better paying job in London as the wages in Miskolc are barely enough to support a normal standard of living, let alone two college educations. When she decided to leave Hungary, she contemplated going to Paris since she is fluent in French, so the overall adjustment would have been easier; however, Nadia wanted to make as much money as she could, so she chose London, with the British pound having one of the highest currency exchange rates in Europe. It has dropped slightly since then, but it is still relatively high. Having a family member already in London made the transition from Miskolc much simpler than if she had had to start out on her own. Nadia traveled to London hoping to only spend six months there, at most. That was four years ago, and now she sees herself being here for another seven to eight years.
Working in London:
Part of this extended time frame has to do with the Right to Work restrictions for EU residents. While she didn’t have to go through the process of applying for a work visa — moving within the EU is comparable to moving between states in the US — she was only allowed to apply for either unskilled labor or specialist-skilled work. Not having the qualifications for any of the top positions, she had to take on a series of part-time jobs to achieve her goal. On average, Nadia works 60 hours a week, spanning all seven days. Monday through Friday she works two jobs back-to-back, giving her 10 to 12 hour workdays, and picks up extra shifts on the weekends. For Nadia, one of the hardest aspects of getting work was the bureaucracy of it all. When trying to apply for a position, she was told she needed a Nation Health Insurance number to apply, only to find out that in order to apply for a National Health Insurance number, she needed proof of work. It was a continuous “circle of struggle.”
Life in the Big City:
Nadia does enjoy living in London — aside from the weather, that is. She thinks it is a beautiful city with such intriguing architecture and rich history; she appreciates all that London has to offer and wishes she had some free time so that she could actually experience it. But Nadia simply cannot wait to return home. She deeply misses Miskloc and hopes to finally return and be with her family once again. In the mean time she gets by video-chatting her family once a week and goes home once or twice a year — primarily for the holidays. Being away from her family takes it toll, as anyone would expect, and she admits that if she were able to return right now, she would in an instant.
In the U.S. many of the unskilled positions are filled by high school and college-aged kids trying to save up or pay for school, whereas in London, they are almost all adults, most of whom are immigrants. Some travel here because the want to, many because they need to, and sometimes it’s a little bit of both. With the British pound still one of the highest currency exchange rates in the EU, it certainly is an alluring opportunity for immigrant workers. I wounder if this should be “migrant workers” throughout?
*Details have been changed for the purpose of anonymity
Name: Rahul Shivhare
Age: 22 years
Origin: Gwalior, India
Residence: Westminster, London
Job(s): Student at University of Ulster; Youth Roller Hockey Coach; International Sales Representative at Shahi Food Products
Observations:
Immediately after Uni, Rahul heads over to the local high school to coach roller hockey. Rahul’s always cutting it close, so the kids are excited when he finally shows up — usually a couple minutes late. During the breaks he pulls out his accounting textbook and tries to study, but it’s often interrupted by his players’ various questions and concerns. Once practice is over, he commits to accounting, studying the few units he has left to learn before an exam.
From Home to Here:
Rahul did not like any of the business programs available to him in India, so he decided on the University of Ulster: an Irish university with a good business program and a campus in London. Currently he is the only member of his family who is abroad: his mother, father, and twin brother are back in India. Rahul only gets to see them once or twice a year, so he tries to call them every day. He will go back to see them soon, as he hopes to return to India. Although London is a great place for business connections and education, India has more opportunities for those trying to start out on their own. Technically, he is making more money in London than he would be in India, but it does not go nearly as far.
“Here, you could work a nine-to-five job and make a decent amount of money, but everything is just so expensive; if I were making the same money in India, I would be living a much more comfortable life.”
Working in London:
While he is in London, Rahul is also working to help out his father’s company by facilitating deals with London businesses to bring their products to the English market. They are hoping to have their peanut bars sold in London stores by the end of the year.
This city has provided a multitude of opportunities for him, but he’s uncertain of how long he will stay here. Rahul is in London on a student visa, allowing him to take classes and work a part-time job while in the UK: “It’s easy to get a part time job almost anywhere in the city.” It is not until looking at full-time work that things get a little more complicated. Coming to the UK on a work visa requires the company to sponsor the employee, meaning they have to produce the documents necessary for the visa, so for full-time positions they tend to hire European Union residents rather than immigrants — though that’s not always the case.
Overall, Rahul is happy where he is in his life right now, and a little excited not to know where he may be five years from now.
Life in the Big City:
Rahul loves the city; there is always something for him and his friends to do. He also gets to meet all types of people from a wide array of backgrounds with their own traditions and cultures. He admits that sometimes it is easier to spend time with other people from India, sharing a common language and background, but that does not limit his social group by any means. Rahul is certainly enjoying his time here now, but for him, London is not a place to settle down simply because, “It doesn’t feel like home.”
Name: Abdelilah Nabil
Age: 63
Origin: Rabat, Morocco
Residence: Michtam, Surrey
Job(s): Cook; Chef
Observations:
Very few tend to notice Abdelilah slip through the front door of one of London’s many Student Housing buildings. It is not until they hear the sounds of Spanish radio permeating through the kitchen that they know he has arrived. But his stealth in no way makes him unapproachable. There’s always a slight smile on his face, and he’s usually willing to swap pleasantries and small talk amidst his work. He has even asked for suggestions on what to cook, catering to the house’s specific appetite, and continues to work his way through the list of meals provided. Ultimately he ends up spending two hours in the kitchen alone as residents of the Student Housing are aware how difficult it must be to cook for 19 people and do their best to stay out of his way. When dinner is prepared, he slips out the front door just as silently as he had entered, his work for the day finally over.
From Home to Here:
Abdelilah often visited London on holiday and absolutely loved the city. Though he never expected to make it his permanent residence, after living here for over 25 years, he certainly has made this city his home. He has two sisters and two brothers still in Morocco, but his wife and five children are here with him. He initially left Rabat to study French Literature in Paris, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. Not thoroughly enjoying Paris, he decided to move to London rather than return home. To Abdelilah, London is much more of a subtle city, which allows him to explore its beauties without the extravagance of Paris; he certainly prefers London over Rabat as well, which he claimed was like comparing “chalk to cheese.” That being said, he typically returns home twice a year and thinks that he may one day return to Rabat to retire.
Working in London:
While financial reasons were certainly a motivation for the move, his initial focus when arriving in London was studying. It was here that he learned his fifth language, English, having already learned Spanish, French, Italian, and Arabic. When Abdelilah first arrived in London, he was here on a student visa, which allowed him to work part time. He got a job at a local bakery and after he was done studying, his boss sponsored his work visa and brought him on as a full-time employee. He worked there for a little over a year before opening up his own clothing business that specialized in army attire: vintage captain’s jackets and old American military apparel. He hoped this shop would be his career. That dream was cut short after six years when Virgin Atlantic bought out the entire building and Abdelilah was forced to move out. He responded to this sudden uprooting by taking a vacation back home; he spent two years on the beach, doing nothing but “recharging the batteries.” Now, as he has for the past seven years, he works 8-12 hours a day, five days a week. Monday through Friday he works as a chef at a pub from nine to three, which he immediately follows with cooking for the residents at the Student Housing from three to five. Though he certainly has a larger income here, everything is so expensive in comparison that, in terms of lifestyle, he is making only a little more than what he would make as a cook in Morocco.
Life in the Big City:
At the London Student Housing he works alone, but at the pub, he finds himself primarily working with native Londoners. He spends his free time with those of Italian, Spanish, Moroccan, English, and other backgrounds. He does have free time, because he doesn’t work on weekends, but he wishes he could get out to see more of London — his life always just seems to get in the way. But for now, he is not too concerned, knowing that if he were determined enough, he would be able to find the time to explore the city he loves so much.
Name: Nadia Nemes
Age: 40 years
Origin: Miskolc, Hungary
Residence: Lewisham, London
Job(s): Waitress, Receptionist, Housekeeper
Observations:
When walking in the pub’s dining hall, Nadia is typically found behind the bar. She’ll gesture arriving customers to their tables and will promptly meet them with menus. It is usually then that they notice she is the only one working the floor, serving as host, waitress, and bartender simultaneously. Though she is always very polite, kind, and responsive, she’s not the most outgoing and upbeat waitress, but when working one job that normally takes three people — on top of her other two jobs — it is more than understandable.
From Home to Here:
Nadia came to London to help support her two children: her son is in his second year of college, studying physics at Taras Shevchenko University, and his younger sister will be entering college shortly after he graduates. Nadia left Hungary to search for a better paying job in London as the wages in Miskolc are barely enough to support a normal standard of living, let alone two college educations. When she decided to leave Hungary, she contemplated going to Paris since she is fluent in French, so the overall adjustment would have been easier; however, Nadia wanted to make as much money as she could, so she chose London, with the British pound having one of the highest currency exchange rates in Europe. It has dropped slightly since then, but it is still relatively high. Having a family member already in London made the transition from Miskolc much simpler than if she had had to start out on her own. Nadia traveled to London hoping to only spend six months there, at most. That was four years ago, and now she sees herself being here for another seven to eight years.
Working in London:
Part of this extended time frame has to do with the Right to Work restrictions for EU residents. While she didn’t have to go through the process of applying for a work visa — moving within the EU is comparable to moving between states in the US — she was only allowed to apply for either unskilled labor or specialist-skilled work. Not having the qualifications for any of the top positions, she had to take on a series of part-time jobs to achieve her goal. On average, Nadia works 60 hours a week, spanning all seven days. Monday through Friday she works two jobs back-to-back, giving her 10 to 12 hour workdays, and picks up extra shifts on the weekends. For Nadia, one of the hardest aspects of getting work was the bureaucracy of it all. When trying to apply for a position, she was told she needed a Nation Health Insurance number to apply, only to find out that in order to apply for a National Health Insurance number, she needed proof of work. It was a continuous “circle of struggle.”
Life in the Big City:
Nadia does enjoy living in London — aside from the weather, that is. She thinks it is a beautiful city with such intriguing architecture and rich history; she appreciates all that London has to offer and wishes she had some free time so that she could actually experience it. But Nadia simply cannot wait to return home. She deeply misses Miskloc and hopes to finally return and be with her family once again. In the mean time she gets by video-chatting her family once a week and goes home once or twice a year — primarily for the holidays. Being away from her family takes it toll, as anyone would expect, and she admits that if she were able to return right now, she would in an instant.
In the U.S. many of the unskilled positions are filled by high school and college-aged kids trying to save up or pay for school, whereas in London, they are almost all adults, most of whom are immigrants. Some travel here because the want to, many because they need to, and sometimes it’s a little bit of both. With the British pound still one of the highest currency exchange rates in the EU, it certainly is an alluring opportunity for immigrant workers. I wounder if this should be “migrant workers” throughout?
*Details have been changed for the purpose of anonymity