People seeking asylum in the UK can only apply for the right to work after waiting for a decision on their asylum claim for over a year. Even then, the few people granted such permission can rarely work in practice because their employment is restricted to the narrow list of highly skilled professions included on the Government’s Shortage Occupation List. People are essentially banned from working whilst they wait months, often years, for a decision on their asylum claim, negatively impacting their mental and physical wellbeing. 

People who have risked everything to find safety should have the best chance to contribute to our society and integrate into their new communities. Lifting the ban on permission to work for people seeking asylum in the UK allows them to live in dignity and to provide for themselves and their families. Instead, they live on just £5.66 per day, struggling to support themselves and their families while their talents are wasted and their integration is set back.

Our panellists address the issue, sharing their experiences and proposing recommendations. This episode is hosted by Jason Thomas-Fournillier with panelists Catherine Lebadou and Maria Stephens, the Advocacy Manager at Refugee Action. 

Produced and edited by Azadeh Hosseini, the Communication & Engagement officer at Refugee Action

For more information about our work, please visit: Refugee Action

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