FILIPINO workers arriving in Jersey are being kept warm during the cold weather thanks to donations of winter clothing.
Ian Cardwell became aware of some of the challenges facing migrant workers when he married his wife, who is from the Philippines, four years ago.
‘They have no idea what they’re coming to,’ he said.
‘They’re used to only wearing flip-flops, no socks, and shorts, and then suddenly they arrive here in Jersey and it’s freezing.’
He added that while their employers would provide appropriate clothing for work, many Filipino staff – the majority of whom work on farms in the Island – did not have suitable clothes to wear outside of working hours.
Using social media, Mr Cardwell asked for unwanted possessions and said that he soon had enough donations to fill two vans.
‘I was donated an amazing Superdry coat; I’ve had knitted hats from people, beautiful stuff, even Tommy Hilfiger jackets. The Filipino farmers are now going out looking really smart because of the generosity of Jersey people,’ Mr Cardwell added.
‘I’m in the throes of creating a Jersey agency that will bring in Filipino workers and will look after them. We will make sure that we do have clothes for them. I’m not going to look to the farmers to supply it, or the government to supply it, but we can go to charity shops and get stuff at a small price and kit them out so that they’re looked after from the moment they arrive.
‘We’ll take them around the Island and show them things, introduce them to one another, introduce them to the community.
‘This Sunday, for example, we’re having a party and we’re going to feed everybody and encourage them to talk to each other and mingle with the community. That’s what I want to do more of.’
Mr Cardwell added that he hoped the agency, once fully operational, would help local businesses fill vacancies while also ensuring that migrant staff were well looked after, with income made from the venture invested into property to create places for Filipino workers to live.
‘These people want to come over and they want to work, and we want them to work. It’s the perfect match, so we need to make it happen,’ he added.
