UK Government Halts Job Ads for Detention Centre Tutors

London, Aug 29 (PTI): British Indian Home Office minister Seema Malhotra has intervened to remove UK government job ads, including roles such as a balloon craft tutor for illegal migrants detained at a London detention center.

Following a report by ‘The Sun’ about positions offering over 30,000 pounds annually at the Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre (HIRC) on the official “Find A Job” website, Malhotra informed that the contracting agency for the Home Office was instructed to withdraw these unnecessary positions.

Mitie, the agency responsible for posting these listings, said the positions were part of its contractual obligations to cater to the physical and mental wellbeing of detainees.

“We don’t believe all these roles are necessary and have told the Home Office to speak to Mitie to remove them,” stated Malhotra, who serves as the government’s Immigration Minister.

The position of "Hospitality and Floristry Tutor" still appears on the official portal with a closing date of September 21 for applications. It involves creating and conducting workshops in creative skills like “floristry, cake decorating, balloon craft, arts, and crafts activities”.

Another listing calls for an HIRC Hairdressing Tutor to provide “hair-cutting, dyeing, and braiding services ensuring the skills remain current with industry standards and trends”.

'The Sun' article prompted criticism from the Opposition Conservative Party, alleging that the Labour Party government has inadequately addressed the illegal migration issue.

“The government has lost the plot. They’re so addicted to providing freebies that they’re even handing them out to foreign criminals when they’re about to be removed from the country. It’s insane,” remarked shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick to the newspaper.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp added, “Labour is spending taxpayers’ money on perks when the focus should be on deportations. Hiring gym managers and balloon craft tutors for individuals awaiting deportation is indefensible and must cease immediately.”

Migrants entering the UK illegally and asylum seekers can be detained in removal centres as they await deportation or resolution of their immigration claims. As per the UK Home Office, approximately 1,808 individuals are currently held in UK detention facilities.

“The impact of these activities was emphasized in the recent HMIP [His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons] report, noting that these services helped improve the focus on assisting individuals in managing detention-related stress,” stated Mitie, a facilities management company contracted by the Home Office.

Other roles listed for Heathrow’s removal centre include a part-time Hindu Chaplain to “plan, organize, promote, facilitate, and deliver worship and study opportunities for Hindu residents” and “maintain a supply of Hindu religious items for residents to practice their faith fully”.

Detention Action, a UK charity advocating asylum seekers' rights, emphasized the government's "duty" in providing such roles.

“The government should use immigration detention as a last resort and for the shortest time necessary. They are failing spectacularly on both counts,” commented charity director James Wilson.

“In the last year, the Home Office detained thousands for months or even years, with over 60 per cent later released. Until a detention time limit is imposed, the government bears the responsibility to support the mental health and wellbeing of detainees,” he said.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)