Resource

Men, women, children and families who come to the UK seeking protection have fled war, torture, persecution and extreme violence. Many have experienced unimaginable trauma. Some are disabled, living with mental health conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; some are older people or full-time carers. In many cases, people are unable to speak English or have limited formal education. It is important to recognise that they are seeking safety in the UK because they fear for their lives.

The Home Secretary’s announcement today that asylum support would be revoked for those who “have the ability to support themselves and have the right to work” (whether they have applied for this permission or have been granted it by the Home Secretary) risks pushing people who simply cannot work at that point in their lives towards homelessness, poverty and losing access to vital legal aid. This is particularly concerning for those who are traumatised or disabled, or who lack relevant skills and experience and cannot find appropriate employment

We have supported many survivors of torture and trafficking who, after applying for permission to work in a desperate attempt to find hope during years spent in limbo awaiting a decision on their asylum claim, have still been unable to secure employment.

There are many reasons for this. Employment opportunities are restricted to roles on the Immigration Salary List which is extremely limited and are often not compatible with an individual’s education, skills or goals. Others face barriers such as limited literacy or English language skills, as well as the severe mental and physical impacts of trauma.

Forcing people to choose between homelessness and finding any form of employment risks pushing them into exploitation. We have supported survivors of trafficking in the UK who have been trapped in highly exploitative situations, where employers take advantage of their immigration status or their fear of returning home to violence and persecution.

Salma, a survivor of trafficking from Eritrea and a client of the Helen Bamber Foundation, recalls: “When I applied for asylum, I wasn’t able to work. After one year, I got permit to work. But not all of the jobs I could do, because of the jobs on Immigration Salary List were very limited. I didn’t finish university, and most of these jobs are for people who finished university. When I got the permit to work, I was really excited because I really wanted to support myself. But it was very difficult for me, I was really insecure about my English. But I did, I found a job. I told the manager about my health problems, and I don’t think it was a good idea to tell him. I needed to leave the company for my mental health... His reaction was very bad, he said I was just using the company to get some advantages, he didn’t pay me either.”

While it is positive that people who have been in the asylum system for more than 12 months may automatically receive permission to work, this must not become a mandatory and punitive requirement, as the Home Secretary suggests. Instead, the government must provide meaningful support to help people access employment, including training and tailored employment assistance, so that individuals who are able to work can sustainably support themselves in the long term.

Every day we support people seeking protection in the UK who have a strong desire to contribute to the country that has offered them safety. However, this must not be a prerequisite for being protected. Vulnerable men and women must not be forced to choose between work, homelessness, poverty, or being sent back to dangerous situations.