Memorandum submitted by the Consulate
General for The Republic of Turkey
Thank you for your letter of the 31 March 2003
about the DWP services for the ethnic communities.
The Turkish Community really appreciates the
services delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions. Our
people are therefore very eager to make substantial contributions
to the success of the Department. May I present some of their
views regarding the delivery of these services?
The Turkish residents outside London would appreciate
more translation facilities at the DWP branches. Employing more
translators would also contribute to the Government's aims at
reducing unemployment amongst ethnic communities.
We would be grateful if the DWP could regard
the number of Turkish origin public servants at the DWP in its
recruitment policies.
As labour attaches it is our job to transmit
details of your services to our community here. I greatly appreciate
the success of the personnel at the Joint International Unit being
worthy ambassadors of your Country and winning the support of
labour attaches in the UK. We would really appreciate the opportunity
to meet regularly with them and the other DWP staff.
We would be very happy if the DWP would consider
inserting more flexible clauses in the workers who have come to
the UK in their middle age who have insufficient years in UK employment
to qualify for a full pension.
Regarding unemployed Turkish residents we do
appreciate the support of job centres in helping them find work.
May I tell the Committee that most of the jobless people who were
helped by the Job Centres have remained in their positions. We
also really appreciate the services provided by private recruitment
agencies financed by the jobcentres as our people feel more relaxed
at them. We very much hope that the British Government will continue
to support these agencies.
We are very pleased with the levels of self-employment
amongst Turkish residents here. We are however hoping to see an
increase in employer paid positions which we regard as an important
factor for their future integration.
Thank you for your kind cooperation.
Mr Izzet Giritlioglu
Labour Attaché
29 April 2003
| 
