Islander who helped clothe Filipino farmers builds "supply chain of support"

Wednesday 16 August 2023

An islander who launched a successful appeal to help clothe 60 Filipino farmers has set up a company to assist overseas workers who come to Jersey for employment, while bolstering the local economy by supporting understaffed business.

Ian Cardwell explained that he hopes to create a "supply chain of support in Jersey" for people who come to the island to work, and "better inform the Filipinos of the rules and regulations of Jersey, and help them deal with all the problems of living in a foreign country".

Like many other islanders, Mr Cardwell was unaware of the difficulties faced by Filipinos coming to Jersey to work until four years ago when he married his wife, who is from the Philippines.

Since then, he has become immersed in the Filipino community in Jersey and is now determined to make the island a more welcoming place for those coming here to work.

He described “falling in love” with the local Filipino community, who he said are “kind, exceptionally hard-working, conscientious, and reserved” people.

Pictured: Mr Cardwell wasn't involved with the Filipino community in Jersey until he married Liza four years ago.

In January, Ian launched an appeal for warm clothing for workers who had arrived from the Philippines in the middle of Jersey’s winter with nothing but summer clothes to wear.  

He praised the generosity of Jersey's community as "amazing" after he was inundated with enough donations to fill two vans.

"Not impressed" by Jersey's hospitality

Speaking to Express at the time, Mr Cardwell said that he was determined to do more to "to try and ensure that [Filipino workers] are looked after when they come over to Jersey."

"When I started to spend time with more of the local Filipino community, I was not impressed by the way that Jersey looks after them," he explained.

"Upon further investigation, it appeared that some had been inadequately prepared to come to Jersey."

Mr Cardwell added: "The Filipino community are humble and respectful people who always try to achieve their best and are not good at complaining nor confrontation.

"They are also in a very difficult position as, if they upset their employment agency or employer, they will not have they contract renewed.

"Some are afraid of getting on the wrong side of the Government for tax and Social Security, and they are also afraid of the employer and agency."

Pictured: Mr Cardwell's online appeal collected enough winter clothes for over 60 Filipino farmers.

Now, Mr Cardwell has set up his own company – Rich City Enterprises – to assist Filipino workers who come over to Jersey to work.

He hopes to create a "supply chain of support in Jersey" for people who come to the island to work, and "better inform the Filipinos of the rules and regulations of Jersey, and help them deal with all the problems of living in a foreign country".

The business owner also explained that this could benefit the local economy by providing workers for Jersey business which are struggling to find staff.

"There is still this element of fear"

Mr Cardwell also wants to remove the culture of "fear" that often seems to be felt by people coming to Jersey to work.

Friends of Africa CI recently told the Work Permit Holder Welfare Review panel that some workers from Africa feel "afraid" to seek help or share grievances with their employers over concerns they might lose their job, which is often tied to accommodation.

Chair of the panel Deputy Beatriz Porée described the feedback as "sobering information", but added that it was "important" for the review of work permit holders' welfare.

Pictured: Panel chair Beatriz Porée described it as "sobering" to find out that some African staff are "afraid" to voice workplace concerns in Jersey.

Mr Cardwell added: "Following a recent meeting with the Scrutiny Panel for overseas workers, I was concerned to learn that the word 'fear' kept coming up. Some of this is [Filipino] culture some is Government, some is employers, and some is agency. Whilst most of this is in their minds, there is still this element of fear.

"[Filipino workers] are afraid that having invested so much money, in their terms, that they could be returned at any moment if they upset any of those they are afraid of."

He added: "There is some concern that if the [Filipino] government found out some of the practices in Jersey that there could be ramifications which could lead to agencies no longer being able to provide staff to Jersey, and with so many workers here it would have a negative effect on Jersey."