Curry chefs in a pickle

2:24pm Tuesday 19th February 2008

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CURRY houses in High Wycombe are struggling to fill their kitchens with top quality chefs because of strict immigration laws.

Monsur Sumon, who has been manager at Radhuni Indian restaurant in Straight Bit, Flackwell Heath for a year, said his eatery had been affected by the rules. He said: "We did try before and they didn't give us permission for a second chef.

"I don't know why they do it. Indian restaurants are always short of staff. Language is a problem but most of my staff speak Bengali. We do want to get the staff from India who can cook the food properly and know about the spices.

"It's a problem everywhere. I know a few restaurant owners who are struggling to provide authentic cuisine because they don't have a good chef.

"They did give us permission a couple of years ago and a lot of people came, but still we need more people."

The nationwide issue was sparked by the pressure group the Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) which said the rules restrict people allowed a visa to educated people who can speak English.

The campaigners say the skills are not needed above the expertise to produce authentic Indian cusine.

Rahman Sarker, co-partner at Chutney in Easton Street, High Wycombe, said although his restaurant had not been directly affected, it is a problem in south Bucks.

Rahman said: "The Government are telling us to employ local people, but when you try to employ Polish people you find they can't make a chapatti.

"If my chef is not happy he might leave tomorrow and I will have exactly the same problem as everyone else.

"The younger generation are not interested in tradition at all and people born in this country would prefer to work in Tesco and not follow the family business."