WIBU to send my local Indian Restaurant a card?

[elahrairahforprimeminister]

They've been 'raided' by the Home Office, seems that some staff had overstayed their VISAs and they've been arrested.

I know they've broken the law but I still feel really bad for them. They were all lovely blokes. Really nice guys. DS is friends at school with some of their children.

We've been going there for years.

They've been splashed all over the local paper and out local Facebook Spotted page is now covered in racist bile.

:(

Can't really afford a meal there this week to show support but I was thinking about sending a card just to say that we still think they're awesome (people make mistakes, right?).

Or would that be weird?

Nope I think it would be nice.

I'm not sure why you're asking us?

If you know the owners, you'll presumably know whether they'll appreciate a card or not.

I think they would appreciate it -

We don't know them.

We see them a lot because we're greedy and chat while we're in there. We like them a lot. When people visit we always take them there because the food is so good.

We don't see them socially or have them round for tea or anything.

:)

I think it would be weird

Do you approve of them paying staff cheap labour rates, because I doubt they were paying minimum wage? They will also be fined enormous amounts.

Of course they were lovely - you are their customer!

I think it's weird to say 'well done' for employing people illegally, no doubt under NMW and without paying NI as well. Sorry. I'm sure they are all 'lovely people' because you kind of have to be lovely when your entire livelihood depends on an employer who has you here in the black market economy. You can hardly get a job elsewhere, can you?

So sorry, but YABU. People who exploit immigrants (and immigrants who exploit the UK) grind my gears.

I wouldn't. Having seen independent documentary films about the way illegal workers are treated by their employers (many are beaten, not paid, threatened etc.) I wouldn't feel a bit sorry, they do not employ people out of altruistic motives, they do so because they know that they are scared and vulnerable and will not challenge the way they are treated for fear of being reported and removed. Moreover, they have probably damaged the lives of other law abiding families with restaurants, because they will be able to keep their prices lower as they do not have to pay the same wages NIC's etc. It is quite possible that there are children at your children's school whose parents have lost their livelihoods because of this sort of thing, perhaps offer them support instead.

Lastly, would you send a card to the owner of massage parlour? No, of course you wouldn't, it's not only sex workers who are forced in to slave labour you know.

I agree that it is not a race issue though

I wouldn't.

If you don't know them well enough to pop in and chat about it, they are not close enough to receive a card!

They have been a little bit bad y'know

And not paying tax on those wages either. If they have Out stayed their visa they have no right to work in the u.k

Although I do want to know what kind of card one sends to say 'sorry you got caught breaking the law'. Can you get them in clintons? Or is it more a Paperchase purchase?

I think it is a thinking of you at this difficult time type one Wilson

I'll bet Hallmark do one

One day I will be one of those people with a card for all occasions in a special drawer fem. One day....

A great idea Wilson

One can't be too prepared!

YABU - they are here illegally, contributing nothing in the way of tax or NI. The owner will be fined £10k per illegal worker which is a good incentive not to do it again.

I agree with others who say it's weird.
I wouldn't go back there either as I wouldn't want to support a business which exploits desperate people.

I'm sure they were lovely. The employees at least were knowingly breaking the law, if the business knew about it they were breaking it too although some of the workers may have lied to their employer about their visa status. They may not necessarily have been exploited in this particular case but it does happen a lot. A card which states that you've always enjoyed their meals and are disappointed to hear the latest news would convey sympathy without approving of any illegal activity.

You'll find that a lot of illegal workers are paying full tax and n.i but they are just doing it with a false visa and/or passport.

No. I don't think you should. I think a card ' So sorry to hear you are about to be deported and your families torn apart. I'll miss your chicken korma. ' would seem rather patronising. A card cannot make this better.

On a separate note, our local very well regarded and popular Indian restaurant was raided and it was found that the unpaid illegal workers were actually being held in slave conditions against their will. The restaurant owners are now in prison. Not every Home Office raid is unjust.

Bettybotter: That happened with work on a temple here in Sydney too. They imported stonemasons on some sort of temporary visa, paid them $3 a day (illegal - have to be paid the award wages for that role) and locked them up in sheds when they had finished work for the day! One of them managed to tell a visitor to the temple and they got the police involved.

Where is the "So sorry you broke the Law" section in Clintons?