Due to a lack of official recognition as an ethic minority, London’s Latin American community are prevented from integrating further into mainstream society. (The Prisma Memoirs)
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–Georgina Campbell
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The shadowy life of early mornings and late nights spent hauling a bucket and mop around schools, offices and hotels is the fate which awaits many Latin American immigrants.
Their lives interrupted by violence, tens of thousands of Latin Americans have come to the UK in the hope to rebuild their lives. May 2011 saw a research project undertaken on the capital’s Latin American population. “No Longer Invisible” was commissioned by two charities that realised it was necessary for a detailed study of the size, problems and needs of the community.
The project revealed that Latin Americans have the highest employment rates (85%) compared to other foreign born residents (55%) and the London population as a whole (61%).
Although the majority of the community is extremely well educated and are employed throughout London’s labour-market, one third cannot speak English, which is a major contributing factor to their inability to economically and socially integrate into mainstream society.
Despite such high employment rates, the majority of Latin Americans face a sharp decline in occupational status, with 70% working in elementary jobs in cleaning, catering and hospitality services on first arriving in London.
This is a huge contributory factor in the community’s struggle to integrate into mainstream society. These unsociable hours which are often fragmented, makes it extremely difficult for the community to learn English, adapt and feel a part of their new society.
Many Latin Americans find themselves in low- paid and low-skilled jobs, often employed informally without labour rights and employment protection, and are therefore more likely to face exploitation and discrimination.
Significantly, 40% experience workplace abuse and exploitation, including not being paid for work, verbal and sexual violence and unfair dismissal.
11% of Latin American workers earn below the National Minimum Wage, which is ten times higher than the average for the UK population at 1.1%.
Despite the prevalence of low- paid work, only 1 in 5 receive state welfare benefits.
This is usually in-work support related to low income such as tax credits and housing and council tax benefits.
1 in 5 Latin Americans have never been to a GP and 6 out of 10 have never been to a dentist in the UK.
Due to the economic adversities faced by the Latin American community many can’t afford decent accommodation as almost a third share their homes with other families, highlighting that overcrowding is also a significant issue.
Jose Luis Sanchez, a spokesman for the Latin American Worker’s Association (LAWAS), says that the combination of poor English, insecure immigration status- compounded by a widespread lack of awareness of employment law- make the community a target for companies that pay less and refuse to pay overtime or for holidays.
Although there’s a strong cultural and commercial presence in parts of London, the single problem is the community’s lack of formal recognition.
On census or population forms, unlike other ethnic minorities, Latin Americans don’t have their own box.
They have to resort to ticking “other” and add “Latin American” in brackets. The greatest enemy for a community who is desperate to feel a part of their new home is their enduring invisibility. (The Prisma Memoirs)
(Photos: Pixabay)
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