Category: Politics

Al-Shabaab in the mafrishes?

A former Khat addict claimed that the effects of khat are so severe that it makes users become easy prey for Al-Shabaab recruiters. Abukar Awale appears to describe a process of slow deterioration of self-worth that eventually delivers vulnerable addicts into the hands of ready and waiting recruiters lurking around mafrishes (Khat cafes)…This view was further sensationalized and advanced by a Bristol based Somali NGO leader who on BBC Radio Bristol claimed that he had evidence, proving that Al- Shabaab was actively recruiting similar lost young souls in Bristol. The existence of evidence for both of these claims has not being made public – if they actually exist – by police and, in any case, both men ought to have gone to the authorities first to disclose it before approaching the media. Because going to the media first could have easily driven dangerous terrorist to underground and endangered civilian lives.

Cultural explanations of Somali youth crime

The terms Somali and crime are becoming interchangeable in many right wing newspapers and blogs in England today. It, misleadingly, when combined with over two decades of civil war, gives the impression that the Somali culture celebrates or at least, tolerates violence and deviance.

Diaspora political parties: Daydreaming in distant lands

Somalia: A new phenomenon constructed in the security of the Western world and by those who have very little real involvement with Somalia and its politics. It is built on arrogance, fantasy and colonial like ambition of civilising the Somali people through sudden democracy…From Ha Noolato (where are they now?), Tayo and Hiil Qaran to the others I have not heard of but probably exist, there is this believe among their Diaspora leaders that they will be the ones to return peace, stability and security to Somalia. What is consistent about all of these organisations is that they are led from the comfort of the Western world and they are spearheaded by ambitious but out of touch individuals.

What can African leaders learn from Brazil?

According to the Centre of Economic and Business Research, Brazil made a historical leap in this year’s annual global economic league tables because of its vast reserves of natural resources and its growing cash rich middle class who are spending as Europeans and Americans tighten their belts as a result of the global financial crisis. There is much for African leaders to learn from a country that was once just like theirs in every imaginable way.

Poor staff retention is driving away customers

The staff turnover is exceptionally high because of the over reliance on family members and friendships networks to find employees. The perceived benefits for employers is that the informal relationship will help their business grow and avoid red tape as most of the employees would be employed on part-time self-employed basis. This perceived advantage is the real problem that hampers ethnic business development and growth.

Many businesses are making workers redundant in response to the global financial crisis. The argument has been that because of poor sales brought about by weak consumer spending and confidence, the high cost of employing and retaining staff is no longer financially justifiable. While this argument is credible given the difficult trading conditions internationally, most ethnic lead businesses in the UK have always been poor at retaining qualified staff. Many business leaders that have been approached for this article have argued that many of their former employees were unreliable, lazy and difficult to get along with. They went on to argue that many of them lacked customer service skills and had at times been dishonest and as a result were not employable.

Dishonesty in an employee should never be tolerated but conversations with these business leaders revealed that while they were all happy to discuss employee related problems they were ignorant to their own shortcomings as managers and business owners.

For any entrepreneur profit is the key goal as it allows for expansion and creates individual wealth. However, to be able to achieve success ethnic business leaders must invest in their most fundamental asset: their workers. Yes, having premises from which to trade from and the equipment with which to trade with is important but what use are they when you do not have the skilled man power to oversee the operation? Ethnic businesses have one of the poorest staff retention record in the UK. The staff turnover is exceptionally high because of the over reliance on family members and friendships networks to find employees. The perceived benefits for employers is that  the informal relationship will help their business grow and avoid red tape as most of the employees would be employed on part time self employed basis. This perceived advantage is the real problem that hampers ethnic business development and growth.

The most successful businesses employ workers who are great communicators, approachable and excellent relationship builders. They also work with management to promote the business and are generally the public face of the enterprise.  Staff retention creates a good working environment, higher staff morale and confidence which results in greater productivity. Customers also enjoy familiarity and strong staff retention will not only strengthen their relationship with workers but it will generate more customers as satisfied shoppers report back to their friends the excellent service they receive from the business. Customers shop in places which make them feel welcome, valued and appreciated. If there is high staff turnover how can customers build a relationship with the employees to feel all this? 

“I enjoy going to see my butcher because he is also a good friend,” said one customer of a Halal butcher store in Bristol. “The workers there know my order, the way I like my meat cut and they also sometimes give me a little extra because of my loyalty to the store.”

Another added, “I will pay a little more rather than seek cheaper deals if I have a good relationship with the workers of a shop.” From these customers what is clear is that a good relationship with employees keeps customers loyal and makes them feel a part of the business. Customers feel that by investing in businesses with consistent and well trained employees that they are investing in their friends and communities. Problems that may arise can also be easily resolved as customers can look back at the service history to know that the unfortunate events that caused the problems may be uncharacteristic of the business and employees involved. Furthermore, employees who have worked for an organisation for some length of time, if treated well, will feel proud of their business and this will be evident to all customers and can easily rub off on them too.

When recruiting staff it is always best to recruit those who are best suited for the job and to give them a permanent contract of work with clear responsibilities which they can fulfil. It is also crucial to provide them with fair wages that reflect their responsibilities and to reward exceptional performance.  Employees have ambitions, families and most want a career and not just a temporary job. This requires employers to train and support the personal ambitions of their employees if it is in their professional business area by providing them with training and opportunities that allow for self development and growth. Most ethnic bosses interviewed for this article admit that they offer no ongoing training support to their employees and those that do only offer the most basic in house. This is a recipe for disaster as workers, feeling that they will not achieve their ambitions, will leave regularly and either work for a competitor that offers them greater opportunities and takes customers with them or set up on their own competing directly with their former employers.

With fierce competition in all sectors, unreliable cash flow and greater regulation, there is a great deal for ethnic business leaders to worry about today. However, with greater consumer choice and a need for more personalised service to survive, these leaders must wake up to the importance of staff retention. They need to start treating their staff like colleagues and not subordinates as well as providing them with the training, opportunities and support they require to fulfil their ambitions within the business. These things can be difficult for all small business but if they do not act on it, they will either remain small forever or vanish completely.

Liban Obsiye

libanbakaa@hotmail.com

 

 

Finding their feet slowly: A look at the struggles and successes of the new and growing Somali community in the Republic of Ireland.

Most of the Somali people in Ireland lived in the capital Dublin in privately rented accommodation in close proximity to each other and a few resided in the Mosney refugee centre which is one of the largest privately run refugee camps in Europe. Many of them were still awaiting the decision of their immigration claim which they collectively thought was taking “forever” and hampering their ability to support themselves. Even those that have been successful in their immigration applications were only given leave that can be extended yearly and does not give them the full refugee status which would allow them under the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention to bring their families to join them.

Attacking the poor will not solve Britain’s economic woes

Cameron and his Liberal Democrat friends ought to be paying bonuses to their marketing managers as they have successfully turned the victims of gentrification against each other. The vilification of the poor has been a Tory policy from the beginning and its impact is now clear. Yes, £26,000 pounds in benefits sounds excessive but not all non-working families will get it, only those who live in the most expensive parts of Britain’s wealthiest cities. Most that will receive it are also in work and it is as a result of the extortionate housing costs and disgracefully low pay that the State has had to step in to support them.

Somali businesses must respond to the recession effectively or close

All businesses are suffering as a result of the recession, but Somali businesses seem to be failing like sandcastles in heavy rain and winds. For some they fail having tried everything to survive, but for the vast majority they let themselves down by ignoring or forgetting business basics such as negotiation and honesty. The fact is all businesses at some point face great hardship, but what differentiates those that survive from those that collapse is simply the ability to negotiate and communicate with key stakeholders who also have an interest in the businesses survival.

Taking all the houses and jobs: why is it hard for refugees to access public services in the UK?

Many refugees do not know where to start when accessing public services which they are by law entitled to … The hard to reach label is nothing more than an excuse and an admission that centralisation has failed those it was supposed to help. As such excuses, neglect and the constant promise of learning from mistakes cannot form the basis of credible public policy. The other excuse of community division within the refugee groups which many … local authorities like to hide behind is now also dead as many of the community organisations are represented by larger umbrella bodies such as the Somali Forum in the case of the Somali community in Bristol. [T]he most vulnerable in society fall through the cracks because of poor public service provision and delivery. This creates greater poverty, isolation and withdrawal from society for many groups and this is not only dangerous but a clear breach of their Human Rights.