Three months after relocation to the UK in 2006, Elizabeth Moses damns all consequencies of delayed employment that this may pose and writes to over 50 recruitment agencies on "Animal Farm Equal Opportunity". Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management: Are these in principles or in practice?

1. ANIMAL FARM EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
To Whom It May Concern:
If anyone had been opportune to read George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” then such
person would remember the popular phrase ‘all animals are equal’ howbeit Snowball
and Napoleon will be quick to add ‘…but some are more equal than others’.
This write-up though focuses on a pressing issue and one that needs immediate
attention and if possible adjustments, is however not intended at condemnation of
policies and terminologies, neither at defamation of character of recruiters or
recruitment agencies and will therefore try as much as possible to be very informal,
indirect and mildly toned. The aim of the writer is first and foremost a self-
representation and secondly, to be a voice to those who currently are facing problems
of redundancy, humiliation, degradation and imminent emotional and psychological
breakdown having toiled so hard to attain a particular status and then find themselves
all of a sudden in the middle of no-where.
The other day, I was fortunate to be invited to an interview somewhere in Middlesex
and after a long session of questions and answers, a member of the interview panel
asked, what do you understand by the term ‘equal opportunity’? Sincerely my
immediate answer to that question was given the chance to proof oneself without
discrimination on such basis as race (funny, isn’t it?) Well, an unsatisfied member of
panel asked further…just race? And I went on to say also, age, gender, health and so
on. Let’s face it anyway, as an advocate especially one who has just completed a
training session on advocacy and legal representation and may soon be attached to a
client, would it not be best that first I am able to represent my own interests?
The issue of Equal Opportunity (EO<sounds like my initials>) vis-à-vis Racial
Discrimination (RD) is of paramount interest to me than those of gender, age, health
or whatever sorts of other discrimination have been put forward. Like many people
who are suffering in silence, I see myself as a victim of the monster called R.D.
although not in clear terms since it is clearly hidden by the angel in disguise E.O. I
choose to use abbreviations in this write-up to guard against reader’s boredom.
How else would you describe the fact that having arrived the U.K. three months ago, I
have sent an average of 5 applications daily covering up to 2months and a half? Most
of these applications have met with interests because I have received so many calls.
The usual question however is, where were your working experience gained? Once I
answer Nigeria the next statement would either be, “Okay Elizabeth I’ll get back to
you” ( which they never do anyway), “ Really Elizabeth I think you might be a bit
over qualified for this role and I’ll try to get another once advertised” ( God knows
when that would be and come to think of it, I really don’t know how one can be over
qualified it’s either you can do the job or not) or those who are able to decode from
the C.V. sent to them would write, “Dear Elizabeth, you really are unsuccessful on
this occasion. We would however keep a copy of your C.V. just in case….” Good to
know however that in spite of hundreds of applications sent out, only one agency
seem to think I should be given a chance to gain some UK experience for which I

2. remain grateful to them but the fact still remains that roles offered are not compatible
with career goals.
Why would anyone want to bother writing about ‘E.O.’ as though the term were not
self explanatory? Not only that, how could someone new to the system be able to see
through the ills and would want to stick her head out for all those affected? The
answer is not far fetched. I may at the moment be comfortable because I have only
just relocated and have finances to fall back on, if however I fail to speak about this
injustice now, I run the risk of also being engulfed by it, loosing all my dreams and
aspirations to be at the top of my career; to learn from different parts of the world and
help to build my own native country as a way of improving the world at large. I
certainly do not want to find myself in the situation where I will be begging cleaning
agencies for jobs as statistics have shown that a great number of Highly Skilled
Occupational Migrants have ended up dumping their career for lack of employment
and in order to sustain themselves and their families have had to take up all sorts of
low quality jobs such as cleaners, ticketing officers, care workers, security officers,
bus drivers and so on. Do not get me wrong as I am not implying there is anything
wrong with these jobs, what I am saying is that these people were actually at the
height of their career before relocating, so its only fair to build them and not to mare
them. I have decided not to live a life of complaints and to take my destiny in my own
hands (God helping me) as I believe the pen is mightier than the sword.
Martin Luther King Jr said “Lord, I hope no one will have to die as a result of our
struggle for freedom in Montgomery. Certainly I don’t want to die. But if anyone has
to die, let it be me.” This prayer was premised on a vision, “I have a dream that my
four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour
of their skin but by the content of their character.” Though this young and brilliant
inspiration to humanity was assassinated on April 4, 1968, on the balcony outside his
Memphis motel room, by a young man known as James Earl Ray, his legacies are
alive today, he neither dreamed nor died in vain. An important thing to note is that
those who cause things to happen and those who kill dreams will all be remembered
but the question is how would I like to be remembered?
In the word of this same man we draw our inspiration for a global community today,
“Our world is a neighbourhood… We are tied together in the single garment of
destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. And whatever affects one
directly affects all indirectly.” Much as I would not want to deviate from the subject
matter by discussing International Law and issues such as Foreign Policy,
Globalization and Sustainable Development, these nevertheless are the bedrock upon
which ‘E.O.’ have taken source. Otherwise, one will wonder why a person chose to
leave his/her own country for another, yet is unsatisfied with treatment meted out to
him/her. Does he/she not know that he who gives anything can also direct how the gift
is to be used (cujus est dare ejus est disponere)? I have come to realize over the years
as a graduate of Political Science with a major in International Law and Diplomacy
that Sovereign Governments do actually mean well and put a lot of effort into Policy
Formulation both at domestic and foreign levels but enough seem not to be done in
the way of citizenship education and carrying them along as to why these policies are
necessary. This has been the stumbling block for most policies and why they do not
seem to be effective.

3. Such terms as ’Colonialism’, ‘Slavery’, and ‘Negritude’ amongst others have fast
become outdated. With countries gaining independence, International Relations have
come to stay rightly guarded by International Jurisprudence. Nations now act as
equals and with civility knowing fully well that it is impossible to exist in solitude and
we all need one another for continued survival. It is interesting though that in a world
where superpowers exist, even developing countries are very important for these
superpowers to continue status maintenance.
The British Authority for one reason or the other (maybe in order to improve its status
within the committee of nations) made a policy on allowing Highly Skilled Migrants
to live and work in the U.K. These people in turn (maybe in order to learn from the
developed economy and in turn help their own country to develop) agree to the terms
of living in the U.K. (working and paying taxes whilst being exempted from public
funds). The authorities no doubt have tried and they further make it easier by putting
in place the policy of ‘E.O.’ to guard against migrants facing discrimination from its
own citizens.
The problem here is however in passé. It does not actually exist, but it may exist.
What I am trying to say here is the thoughts and intents of man are not punishable
(cogitationis poenam nemo meritur) and since these people do not openly declare this
injustice, then it becomes difficult to put up a case. I am definitely not generalizing
but I am nonetheless stating a fact that has been ignored for too long.
I am however appealing in a way to recruiters and recruitment agencies receiving this
write-up to try and maintain a policy of openness in recruitment.
Secondly, having gone this far, I have taken it upon myself to distribute
questionnaires to Highly Skilled Migrants to assist in collating data on a number of
issue and these will be available on request.
Thirdly, having recognised certain factors that may be impediments to our getting
employed, I am taking it upon myself to seek assistance in organising short training
courses in areas of shortcoming. I would however appreciate if these shortcomings are
discussed with us.
Finally, I am particularly seeking your assistance and counting on your agency to help
recruit only two (2) skilled people a month at least to mid-level positions in their
career. I believe this will not be a difficult task and by doing this you would have
helped us to a good level to start our career here in the U.K. and we in turn will have
recommendations for your agency.
We shall also be willing to go an extra mile by paying an agreed sum on those
employed, if this becomes necessary to ensure we secure the right placements.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to read this write-up and for your anticipated
cooperation. I shall also be available for further discussions on the subject matter.
Best Regards,
Elizabeth O. Moses
Written as Voice of Advocacy (VOA)
On 27th June 2006 and sent to over 50 Job Recruiters