Many people will continue to strive for a better life outside of Albania since they do not have access to better chances at home.
by Siobhan Robbins, reporter for the Europe desk
I phoned folks I’d met on my most recent reporting trip as soon as reports of the prime minister’s new strong position on Albanians coming illegally to the UK started to seep out in order to determine whether or not it would deter them from doing it again.
One of the most impoverished regions of the nation is where I first encountered a guy who responded to my question with “Never going to stop.”
On two separate instances, he had the money to pay somebody to sneak him into England.
After he came, he immediately began doing a job that was outside the law, but he was finally caught and deported.
Another contact was in France, where the individual had just been apprehended while attempting to cross the border undetected by hiding beneath a vehicle.
He is now holding out in anticipation of being sent back to Albania. He informed me, “I’m going to my nation, Albania, [then] we attempt again to enter in France, and then after that the United Kingdom.”
Both of these men hail from some of the most impoverished regions in one of the most impoverished countries in Europe. Although the announcement made by Rishi Sunak may result in Albanians who are denied asylum being deported more quickly, this does not solve the problems that cause people to leave their homes in the first place.
Young men informed us that the major reasons they were leaving were because they were poor and had little opportunities.
An employee of the organization I work for informed me today as we were discussing the news that “they had nothing to lose.”
For instance, a plumber estimated that working from home would allow him to bring in around 15 euros per day, but working in the UK would bring in more than 120 euros.
So, what exactly is the answer? “More work visas,” urged the employee of the charity who had been keeping up with the news concerning labor shortages in a variety of industries, from agriculture to construction.
His position is that people are going to come to the UK whatever, so why not tax them and have them contributing to the system like the thousands of Albanians who are currently living lawfully in the UK?
He reasoned that doing so would simultaneously eliminate voids in the labor market, relieve stress on the asylum system, and deprive those who traffic illegal immigrants of their ability to exert influence.
It could be difficult to convince some conservative voters to support such approach.
There is no question that many people will continue to explore for a future outside of Albania if they do not have access to better chances at home.