Timarit Eflingar

TÍMARIT EFLINGAR-STÉTTARFÉLAGS 27 Yes! I came to Iceland in the belief that I already had a job – but there I was, weeks later with no job, and nothing happening. The woman from the temp agency always said she would find me a job tomorrow, tomorrow... Then after few weeks, and a lot of messages from me, she found me a job in construction. So I was happy. From the first day in this new job, the company owner was behaving weirdly. He told us later that the reason was that the ex-name of the temp agency we were working for, was written on our working clothes. That company – apparently – had a very bad reputation in the country. He told us that it would bring him trouble if people knew that he was working with this temp agency. So we taped over the ex-name of the company we worked for. But the boss was afraid and his behaviour became more and more weird. He was trying to kick us out. Because he didn’t want any trouble. We ended up having an argument, because of his behaviour against me and I quitted. Next day he sent me message to apologise. He was just afraid of his own reputation. But I was without a job again. Did they find you another job? I got some temporary jobs, for example one or two days in some roof company. That guy was also kicking out workers from my temp agency – because of bad reputation. This was not ok. I realized I had to move on an search for my own room. I found a basement room. It was really small but I thought; this is my escape! So I took it. It was 50.000 kr. a month. I painted it and put new floor on so I made it really cosy. I did this myself for my own money, but didn’t have to pay a deposit. That was our deal – and my luck. And I was searching for a job again. Soon I got a contract with a bakery and I have been working for them for one year. Did you stay in contact with the workers in Kópavogur? What about the temp agency – did you hear from them again? Well, yes. When the Burn-down happened on Bræðraborgarstígur, I posted something on my Facebook site about that and then the woman - the owner of the temp agency - started to send me messages and calling me, threatening me in all sorts of ways. I ended up going to the police and they told me to make a threatening claim. The temp agency I was working for was renting rooms for workers on Bræðraborgarstígur just few months before it burned down. That house was a horror property. I know it because I went there in the mornings to pick up workers and drive them to work. How is life today? Unfortunately, I just lost my job at the bakery few days ago because of Covid. But I have been very happy to work there. We are still friends and I have learned a lot. I look at the future with bright eyes and I am optimistic. I want to bring my family to Iceland and I hope I will get retired in Iceland. Thank you for telling me your story Adrian. Yes, actually, the bakery I worked for always gives the leftovers away, if there are any. So I used to go and give it to the work- ers in Kópavogur. Because some of them had to search in the trash for food. So every second day I would bring two bags of cookies and bread to them. These workers were suffering. They had nothing. They couldn´t provide a basic food for their families in Romania. That was the saddest thing. To come back home after working in Iceland poorer than you were before you left.