A Christian attitude to illegal immigrants

Labour is one of the most expensive liabilities for entrepreneurs, so, by nature, they aim to maximise profits while minimising production costs. This often means limiting the number of workers and paying them as little as the market will allow.

Ethically speaking, due consideration should be given not only to the work carried out but also to the person who does it. Although we thankfully no longer live in an age where slavery is the rule rather than the exception, many an employer would fail to take adequate care of workers' health and safety were it not for legislation or trade union activity.

However, in spite of all the structures in place, there is a growing class of people that is not being adequately protected in the work place: The illegal immigrant, or, to a lesser extent, the refugee. They are often employed illegally and paid a paltry sum to carry out hard and potentially-dangerous work.

Some have argued that employing these workers illegally is causing a problem for our country: Unfair competition for local workmen in the same line of work, thus increasing unemployment. In turn, this increases resentment against any unwanted aliens.

However, if we are true Christians we would look at the whole picture, evaluate all the facts and act accordingly. It is important to bear in mind that the immigration problem is not the concern of our islands exclusively; it belongs to the whole European continent, which, throughout history, has experienced massive migrations of different races.

In recent years, hordes of people have been leaving African shores and heading northwards in search of a better life in more affluent countries. Apart from that, there has been an influx of people from ex-Communist countries. Many people have failed to realise that immigrants often filled a void in the labour market and have taken on jobs that locals are unwilling to do.

More often than not, the hundreds of immigrants who are stranded on our shores are homeless people fleeing from persecution or dire misery. They have suffered unemployment, humiliating poverty and harsh deprivation from food, schooling and other requirements. All they are seeking is a more hospitable and tolerant land.

It is not easy to get a clear idea of the suffering, sacrifice and anxiety they have to go through. But beginning to understand that would assist us to recognise our duty to help them as best we can.

According to the criteria of equity and balance, that duty is not incumbent on our tiny country alone. All European countries, in the spirit of solidarity, must join hands to solve or, at least, mitigate the immigration problem while respecting their human dignity.

The richer countries should see to it that timely help of all kinds is offered to people from the developing world. This should include the promotion, as much as possible, of conditions that foster increased work opportunities in immigrants' place of origin. This is the way forward if we are to treat the cause rather than the effect of the immigration problem. Besides, this is perhaps the right way to redress the injustices committed against African countries that were ravished by their colonial rulers.

Yet, nothing can justify employing such defenceless people and subjecting them to intolerably low wages and poor working conditions. This is not just illegal but also immoral and made all the worse if they are induced to undertake dangerous jobs without due protection.

A lot of immigrants are not covered by conditions many of us today take for granted, like sick leave provisions or pension schemes. Our industrial laws should force employers to take account of this and be responsible for the introduction of systematic good practice in the employment of the minority groups.

There is much more we can do to help those from other countries to find a home in Europe. They need education that will enable them to fulfil their duties of citizenship. They need to be warned against disorderly conduct, which may provoke antagonism against them But what they need more than anything from us is a Christian attitude, which would look for the good they can bring to our society rather than their failings. We have a duty to offer a helping hand.