Asylum seekers and employment
The Forbidden Workforce: Asylum seekers, the employment concession and access to the labour market [March 2005]
ASSET UK Development Partnership, of which the Refugee Council is a partner, have written this report to highlight the experience, qualifications and skills asylum seekers bring and how they can become a economic asset to the UK.
The Forbidden Workforce suggests that the decision of the Home Office to withdraw the work concession with effect from 23rd July 2002 has severely affected asylum seekers, and points the right way ahead: government policy should aim to encourage asylum seekers to work. Such a policy will ensure asylum seekers access the labour market and support themselves, our businesses and our economy.
The report writers believe that it is vital that integration strategies support the needs of asylum seekers as well as refugees. Such strategies could serve a dual purpose: to help integrate asylum seekers into the UK labour market and society and to help reintegrate failed asylum seekers into the labour markets in their home countries.
Published in March 2005
