PROFESSIONS

There is no strict pattern but basically the early Sikh immigrants got employed in low paid jobs wherever there were shortages of labour and language proficiency was not a dominant factor. Most Sikhs are now well integrated into the local workforce. Sikhs now are found in a wide range of professions. In earlier times in Canada, the Sikhs were active in lumber business. In USA, agriculture was initially the main occupation, though some of them also worked in gold mining. Since I have done considerable travel in Europe, I am in a better position to write about it. Those belonging to the first generation of migrants from 30 years ago, still work in low paid jobs such as, taxi drivers, owners of small private businesses and salesperson (selling newspapers). All over Europe one comes across Punjabi retailers through small kiosks, hawkers and peddlers, food (pizza) delivery. Working as agricultural labour is a popular avenue of employment. Employment in the catering industry-waiters, helpers, cooks (problem with hair), etc., seems to be getting quite popular. In Italy, besides farming, dairying provides attractive job opportunities. Sikhs are now known as 'cow-milkers' or 'bergamini' in Italian - the Italian cheese industry is very dependent upon the Sikhs from Punjab in running the dairies. Sikhs are dominating this sector. On the other hand, in Finland (though numbers are small), most Sikh immigrants are employed or self-employed in the restaurant ('ravintola') business - the term includes bars, pubs, discotheques, eating places or a combination of any of these. Sikhs own some major night clubs. Originally the immigrants started in background cleaning and washing jobs but over a period moved upwards to even own these establishments. In Spain and Portugal many Sikhs are employed in construction industry. Work in factories is a popular avenue of employment for Sikh immigrants across Europe. While the earlier migration wave was almost overwhelmingly dominated by men, some women have started migrating in recent years. Apart from Roman Catholic Keralites, Punjabi women can also be found working in the domestic service sector and as 'care givers' for the aged in some countries. There is thus a 'Punjabi desi' hand in the care of the aged. In another unique profession Sikhs in Philippines have become the major moneylenders to small and medium size businesses and are known as 'Bumbay 5-6'. It is almost a 'credit card' system but without any documentation. Most of earlier migrants globally were 'jat' Sikhs but in Thailand majority Sikhs were mainly businessmen. A new line of business in which Sikhs participated, was known as 'Din Daeng', which is selling on hire purchase basis. Supplying textiles and tailoring became another popular profession in Thailand. Sikhs used to trade in western textiles but post 1932 Sino-Japanese war, they took over imports from Japan from the Chinese. Some of the Thai Sikhs moved over to Japan to set up sourcing hubs. In Malaysia, the Sikhs rose from being policemen, bullock carters, watchmen, dairymen and mining labourers to become professionals such as doctors, lawyers, engineers as well as academics, high-ranking civil servants, and top businessmen. In Singapore, Justice Choor Singh, became a judge of the Supreme Court. Globally, the newer generation of younger Sikhs are successful in various fields - businesses, professions, like the other communities of the countries they are settled in. Some young Sikhs are now opting to joining the army and with turban too. They are fully integrated profession-wise.