Give people seeking asylum the right to work
The UK’s proposed Nationalities and Borders Bill is a massive threat to people seeking safety. This bill would make the asylum system more restrictive and even outright discriminatory to asylum seekers by criminalising those taking undesignated routes to the UK and housing asylum seekers in offshore detention centres.
On 22 March 2022, the House of Commons supported these aspects of the bill and voted against amendments that would have provided more rights to asylum seekers and made the asylum system a fairer one. One of such amendments is the right for people seeking asylum to work if they have not received a decision on their application after 6 months.
At the moment, asylum seekers can only work if they do not receive a decision after a year. However, even then, they need to seek permission from the Home Office and they can only apply for jobs in the Shortage Occupation List. For many this means they cannot find jobs because they lack the specific qualifications needed to apply for those jobs.
Despite the House of Lords’ support to give asylum seekers the right to work and the fact that 81% of people in the UK agree they should be given this right, we watched with great disappointment the rejection of this and other amendments. This is a massive setback, but the fight to ensure any proposed legislation is fair and respects the human rights of people seeking safety continues.
REFEO has been vocal about our support for the Lift the Ban Campaign which has been pushing for asylum seekers to be given the right to work and we will continue to raise our voice to see the change that is so desperately needed!
Alowing people seeking asylum in the UK to work means comitting to ensuring no one lives in poverty and destitution in this country. It also means thousands of people who have fled danger can use their skills and rebuild their lives in their new communities. Not only that, but major gaps in the labour market would be filled and the UK could fulfil its goal of being the welcoming and compassionate country that we strive to be.