Immigrants and Jobs
Therefore, have a business idea before
you get a visa to go to America, Canada or Europe. That should be the first advice for friends
and relatives.
It is the only way to achieve the better life you hope for
when you leave your continent, because it is not business as usual. It is old news but still relevant, that Americans,
Canadians and Europeans have been losing jobs for a while due to
computerization, mechanisation and outsourcing customer service, which is why
credit card queries can be answered by someone in Kolkata or Maseru.
What was known as ‘high street’ has TO LET signs because of
the shift to covered shopping malls. There
are fewer bank tellers because of the internet, the new banking mall. The whole industry of designing and printing
graduation, congratulations on your baby girl or boy and other greeting cards
is on its last legs because of Skype and cellphones. Radio and television stations now send one
person to collect news when they used to be three.
It is even more difficult for immigrants who want to work in
government and parastatals. Professionals
who were chief accountants, CEO’s, managers of provincial electricity boards or
school principals in their countries cannot be guaranteed the same position in
America, Canada or Europe. They might be
deemed overqualified, too black or too religious. That is why it’s important to have a Plan B,
a business idea that will put food on the table.
Immigrants should understand that the whole notion of
employment has changed. Some of the jobs
are now in the countries they want to leave because it is more cost effective
for investors, translate that into you pay workers in Kerala or Nairobi, less than
workers in Chicago or Manchester.
College professors give students their own definition of
employment, which includes theories developed before the internet. For ordinary
people, the definition of a job is about the existence of money to be paid to
the person who worked some hours.
It includes some long-term commitment to work and pay. If workers are lucky, they will be paid a
pension once their productive years are over. Not anymore. The word guarantee has been deleted from J.O.B.
That is why immigrants should have Plan A and B before trying
to chase the American or Canadian dream.
The dream is having its own problems.
By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
Comments