Cross partyAsylum seekers in UK should have right to work after six months!

foxie48 it totally depends where they are going to work and what sort of job they are going to be doing.

If they have destroyed any paperwork, the priority of the U.K. authorities should be to ascertain their identity, their qualifications (if they have any that are transferable) along with checking if they have a criminal record or are wanted for crimes committed in the country they have fled from.

I am not against immigrants and refugees, but I do think that we should know who they are and the reasons for them claiming asylum.

I think if they are resilient enough to cross the world to get here they will likely be excellent employees and possible entrepreneurs!

The fact that we don't let them work seems inexplicable and cruel to me.

I agree with GrannyGravy. Imagine the outcry if they work in a role that allows them access to vulnerable people and then something very undesirable happens, and then it turns out they weren’t/couldn’t be properly checked. I’m thinking about for example in the care sector, which has a great need of employees. Having had a mother in care for the last year of her life, I needed to be 100% confident that those looking after her were totally safe to be with her.

This sounds like a very sensible, and humane, proposal. So good to see cross-party collaboration on this issue, rather than the dog whistle political rhetoric of late. I really hope this idea gains some traction but, with Sunak needing to appeal to the far right in the election build-up, I’m not holding my breath!

Absolutely GrannyGravy and maddyone. Perhaps some of the £millions being spent on the nonsensical Rwanda plan could be diverted to pay for the thorough checks you describe GrannyGravy.

I wonder how it’s decided to send asylum seekers to Rwanda or to allow asylum claims to be processed here? For asylum seekers remaining here, it does make sense to allow some form of employment especially as the Uk has a shortage of able bodied people, it seems. However professional qualifications would need to be verified.

Great post foxie and good news from the committee. Of course we have to be careful safeguarding wise!

But for example we have shortages in some sectors that asylum seekers could fill.

I googled this and it came up with

Agricultural workers. ...
Construction workers. ...
Maids and cleaners.
hospitality sector

Construction workers? Wouldn’t like to live in a house built by someone with no experience. Or most of the others jobs mentioned come to that.

The construction industry includes both skilled and unskilled workers.

But I find it sad that for once a positive report has come out and yet we don't seek to find ways to make it work - a danger of just forcing people back into a box that generalises and to some extent demonises.

Primrose they will all have experience of working in one sector or another. They have had lives before you know - lives that were turned upside down through no fault of their own, necessitating them to seek refuge.

Wyllow3 I haven’t seen any posts demonising

I have seen posts including my own concerned that the lack of verification is problematic. I am an employer and never ever would I employ anyone who could not or had not been cleared and verified as to who they were and their background story

Agreed Wyllow 👏👏👏

Some are very young men what experience would they have had, also this would just encourage more to come over on the boats when word got around.

GrannyGravy there’s no suggestion that people should be employed without the appropriate checks. This report is proposing a positive, workable, humane way forward.

One fabulous initiative would be to increase manpower for highways, and sort out the appalling state of the roads in the UK.

OK Nicenanny whatever!

Casdon 👏👏👏

GrannyGravy13

Wyllow3 I haven’t seen any posts demonising

I have seen posts including my own concerned that the lack of verification is problematic. I am an employer and never ever would I employ anyone who could not or had not been cleared and verified as to who they were and their background story

I don't think you would be forced to take any on, GG13. It's entirely up to you who you employ.

Asylum seekers don't all come without papers.

People who work with vulnerable people have to be checked and cleared before they can work. which really would preclude any asylum seekers.

I think these immediate negative responses are rather sad. (Not meaning you specifically, GG13)

LizzieDrip

OK Nicenanny whatever!

Seems the truth upsets you.

Casdon the appalling state of the roads is due to the filling which is used to mend potholes….

LizzieDrip

Primrose they will all have experience of working in one sector or another. They have had lives before you know - lives that were turned upside down through no fault of their own, necessitating them to seek refuge.

Oh cry me a river! 🤭 They are economic migrants in the main.

Most of those filmed on the boats are young teenage boys. Doubt they have experience in anything.

Nicenanny3

Some are very young men what experience would they have had, also this would just encourage more to come over on the boats when word got around.

That’s a very good point.
It’s saying hey, come over here and start earning good money right away!
And apart from that what good employer would want anyone without any background checks as part of their workforce?

Oreo

Nicenanny3

Some are very young men what experience would they have had, also this would just encourage more to come over on the boats when word got around.

That’s a very good point.
It’s saying hey, come over here and start earning good money right away!
And apart from that what good employer would want anyone without any background checks as part of their workforce?

Employers paying minimum wage, who are desperate for workers.

Primrose53

LizzieDrip

Primrose they will all have experience of working in one sector or another. They have had lives before you know - lives that were turned upside down through no fault of their own, necessitating them to seek refuge.

Oh cry me a river! 🤭 They are economic migrants in the main.

Most of those filmed on the boats are young teenage boys. Doubt they have experience in anything.

Being resilient and using their initiative?