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Restaurant bosses stage protest Curry industry 'could die' claim
(about 10 hours later)
Indian restaurant bosses are staging a protest at the Scottish Parliament over immigration law changes. The curry industry will die if action is not taken to address tough new immigration laws, restaurant bosses have warned the Scottish Parliament.
Restaurant owners claim legislation which came in at the end of February makes it harder for them to bring in staff from outside the European Union. They claim food quality will deteriorate and up to half of the Indian restaurants currently in business could shut.
They also insist that a shortage of kitchen staff in their eateries has been created as a result. The comments came as 100 restaurateurs staged a protest at Holyrood over the changes to immigration rules.
Immigration is reserved to Westminster, but it is hoped the protest will encourage MSPS to lobby UK politicians. They claim a shortage of kitchen staff has been created as a result.
Bashir Ahmad - Scotland's first Asian MSP - said that the change could cause a "curry crisis". Restaurant owners said legislation which came in at the end of February makes it harder for them to bring in staff from outside the European Union.
'Serious problem' Our chefs don't need to speak English - their curry talks Foysol ChoudhuryBangladesh Samity Association
He said: "Having been a curry restaurant owner myself in the 1980's I remember how difficult it was back then to bring over specialised staff from the subcontinent. Foysol Choudhury, general secretary of the Bangladesh Samity Association in Edinburgh, criticised new rules requiring immigrants to speak English and have an academic qualification.
"With more restaurants open now and new tougher immigration laws, for those outside the EU, we are looking at a real curry crisis." "Our chefs don't need to speak English. Their curry talks," he said.
The SNP MSP for Glasgow claimed curry had been Scotland's favourite dish for a number of years and pointed out Indian restaurants and takeaways generated millions of pounds for the economy. "Whoever comes into my restaurant for a job will have to start as a kitchen porter and then he will have to climb the ladder.
But he claimed: "All of this could be under threat if the industry's concerns are not acknowledged and action taken quickly by the Home Office." "A kitchen porter gets a minimum wage. Somebody with academic qualifications is not going to accept that.
Mr Ahmad said he had already raised the issue with First Minister Alex Salmond and added: "I have no doubt his government will work closely with restaurant owners and the Home Office to resolve this serious problem." "The Indian restaurant industry contributes £3.2bn to the British economy. What is the British Government doing to save this industry?"
'Key skills'
Asked about the consequences if action was not taken to tackle the issue, he said: "Half of the restaurants will close and we'll lose the food quality.
"Eventually this industry will die."
Edinburgh entrepreneur Tommy Miah, who is involved in the International Indian Chef of the Year Competition, added: "We're going to suffer big time. You guys won't be able to have chicken tikka masala anymore.
"I've been offered a couple of other restaurants to take but I've said I can't do it because I'm struggling with one restaurant."
Immigration laws are reserved to Westminster, but Thursday's protest was about urging MSPs to lobby politicians in London on the issue.
First Minister Alex Salmond, a well-known curry fan, said the issue was "really serious".
Speaking as he met demonstrators, he said he would continue to draw the UK Government's attention to the matter.
He said: "If people can't get the skilled staff then they can't operate their restaurants, and if they can't operate their restaurants then that's damaging for the economy and the social life of Scotland. It's something we feel very strongly about.
"Ideally, the new system shouldn't have discriminated and prevented people coming in with key skills."