Britain is set to appoint a commissioner to oversee compensating Caribbean migrants who were mistakenly detained and deported by the British government, aiming to prevent a recurrence of such a situation, the interior ministry announced on Thursday. The debacle involving the treatment of the "Windrush generation" during 2018 shed light on the hardships faced by Caribbean migrants who arrived in Britain between 1948 and 1971 to address post-war labor shortages.
The Windrush scandal, named after a ship that brought the migrants, exposed the struggles of individuals denied rights despite residing in Britain for years, with some even wrongfully deported. The newly established Windrush Commissioner will advocate for victims independently and advise the government on redressing their losses.
Migration and citizenship minister Seema Malhotra emphasized the Commissioner's role in preventing such injustices and restoring dignity to those affected. Applications are being accepted for the position, which offers an annual salary of 130,000 pounds ($162,136.00) for a three-day work week.
The selected candidate will collaborate with the Windrush Unit, established by the government to address the scandal and instigate lasting cultural change. A report from September identified the scandal as a consequence of discriminatory immigration policies intending to decrease the non-white population in the country.