Transcript for: Working in the textile mills
Interviewee: Karam Hussain
Subject: Employment
When I came here, I started work straight away. I was just 15 years old.So where did you work when you came here?
I worked in a textile mill. To be honest, I can say that it was a tragedy, but it made me a great believer in God, and that God opens doors for you wherever you go, if you find them you will achieve something. When I came, because there was a lack of education and communication, my father contacted a guy who worked in the community relations office, and he said "my son came here". My father wanted me to go to school, and he said, "no, you are 15 years old and the schools will not accept you, but you can find a job." That was advice I took, and I applied and I got a job straight away.
What was it like working in the mills? What work did you do?
Oh, very hard work. I worked on a grinding machine, and then I worked as a spinner. I worked a long, long time on spinning the wool. In this period, '71 to '80, most of the time I was away, because when my grandfather discovered that I was working there, he didn't accept it, he didn't accept me working at that age. So my grandfather called me back, he said, "no, you can't do that." I stayed for six months here and then six months in Pakistan and thats what happened until 1980.