Untapped labour force could be the solution Scotland needs
Scotland’s chronic skills shortages could be solved by refugees, it has been claimed.
Sabir Zazai, the new chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council (SRC), says that businesses should take advantage of the fresh pool of talent among migrants.
Zazai, a former asylum seeker, will tell business leaders that improving employability is the key to securing community cohesion.
Zazai, whom TFN interviewed last month, plans to promote their cause to business leaders.
He said: “I’ll be personally reaching out to businesses, Scottish Power, KPMG, Arnold Clark, Starbucks and many others.
“When I arrived in the UK from Afghanistan the community welcomed me and invested in me. I will always be grateful for that. I volunteered and then worked and now I’m here today as the chief executive of the SRC. I’m not special or unique in any way and I know that every one of the people arriving here has got something to offer, if they are given a chance.”
He added: “I want to send out the message that these people are not a burden, quite the opposite.”
New arrivals from Syria and elsewhere include engineers, doctors, accountants, architects, translators and IT professionals.
Zazai took up his SRC role at the beginning of September after working with refugee organisations in Coventry to where he was dispersed when he arrived in Britain in 1999. He also plans to make English lessons and additional support for refugees a priority.
He said: “People need to be able to speak the language so they can engage with the local community, make a contribution and avoid isolation. We don’t want them to be a parallel community.”
Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “There are sectors in the Scottish economy, for example digital and engineering, which have a worrying skills shortage that needs to be quickly addressed.
“We see no downside in this idea, and ask members to consider the benefits of engaging with refugees who were skilled professionals in their home countries.”
