Non-Punjabi-speaking schoolboy rejected by UK travel agency

A British schoolboy was rejected by a travel agency because he could not speak Punjabi.

London, Sept.22 : A British schoolboy was rejected by a travel agency because he could not speak Punjabi.

Fifteen-year-old Ben Chaffer's mother Helen told the Daily Mail that when her son arrived at the travel agency, the staff there told him they were expecting an Asian pupil.

Helen, 40, of Nelson, Lancashire, said the owner told Ben that 90 per cent of his customers were Asian or spoke Punjabi and they needed someone who would be able to liase with them.

"But the specifications of the job just included things such as filing and a weekly clean. He didn't even ask Ben if he could speak Punjabi, which he can a bit - enough to greet people," claimed Helen

Mrs Chaffer, who has another son and two daughters, said Ben called her shortly after he was dropped off at Premier Travel in Nelson.

"When I asked him what was wrong he said 'They want an Asian'. I said to the owner 'I believe you have sent my son home because of his colour'.

He laughed and said that he was expecting an Asian lad."

Premier owner Abdul Khan, whose firm specialises in flights to Pakistan and India, said it was a misunderstanding.

He said: "I told the boy I needed to ring the school as we have always had someone who was Asian in the past."

He added that the placement was still on offer, but Helen said Ben feels he wouldn't be welcome.

ANI