Strangers into Citizens

Abid

Abid, a 58-year-old Pakistani businessman, arrived in the UK on a visitor's visa in 2001. He was a businessman in Karachi until his shop burned down. He was then forced to sell his remaining assets.
Upon arrival he claimed asylum which was refused. He could have appealed against the decision but did not have money for a solicitor. He also feared deportation if his appeal was refused. Whilst his asylum application was pending, he was given a temporary insurance number which enabled him take up some work.
For the past six years Abid has worked in hotel kitchens, warehouses and textile factories in London, Manchester and Birmingham. His employers are aware of his immigration status because of his temporary insurance number and never miss a single chance to exploit him. He has worked for £2 an hour for his manual hard work and currently earns £150 a week for 50 hours of work in a textile factory.
One of his employers even deprived him from his hard earned wages. Abid was told that he would be paid half his wages due to the company's cash flow problems. In the end, the company filed bankruptcy and Abid was never paid half of his 3 months wages (approximately £1000). Other employees in the similar situation were able to claim back some money from HM Revenue & Customs but since Abid did not have a full insurance number, he was asked to explain why he has been using temporary insurance number for such a long time. The fear of getting caught and being deported back to Pakistan prevented him from taking further action.
He cannot complain about not being paid a minimum wage or not being paid at all, because he fears he will be reported to authorities and deported back to Pakistan.
Abid has 6 children and a wife in Pakistan. Four of his children got married while he was here. He has never seen his grandchildren and he has no hope that he will see his family anytime soon. He thinks of himself as an old man and cannot afford to work long hours; but he doesn't have a choice: if he leaves this country, he wouldn't have any source of income. He believes that it wouldn't be surprising if he never sees his family again and all this hard work proves to be fatal for an old man like him.
His living conditions are appalling. He shares a house with 6 other men each paying £50 a week plus all the bills. Abid lives in a room where he can barely squeeze in his single bed and really small wardrobe. The house is not double glazed and Abid's room is a front sitting room. So the winter nights are pretty rough for him and huge fuel bills don't allow him to switch the heating on. The landlord is not very cooperative and doesn't allow Abid or his housemate to switch energy supplier.
Most of the money Abid earns is spent in the UK towards rent, bills, and food; but whatever he can save up from his £150 a week has helped his daughters get married. He has a tough life but he is happy that his sacrifices are the main reasons behind his daughters' happiness. At times he laughs and says "you know how Christians believe that Jesus was crucified for their salvation? It's similar for me, I don't mind this life as long as my family and daughters are happy".
Abid deserves an opportunity to regularise themselves, live a fear-free life, should be able to see their families and finally be able to at least earn a minimum wage. He can never be a burden on this economy; in fact Britain needs hardworking, committed and taxpaying citizens like Abid.