Equalities Minister has called for the UK
Government to consider a pilot proposal in Scotland which would
give people seeking asylum the right to work in some parts of
Scotland.
The Scottish Right to Work Pilot Proposal proposes a number of
changes to current UK policy, including enabling the right to
work from six months instead of twelve months, and removing
restrictions on the types of work they can undertake.
Additionally, those on the pilot would have access to support
around key topics such as employability and language learning.
A report from the Scottish Government's independent Expert
Advisory Group on Migration and Population, published in December
2023, shows that granting people who are seeking asylum the right
to work at an earlier stage could improve their wellbeing and
integration, reduce their risk of exploitation, and have
longer-term benefits to our economy and public service delivery.
Ms Stewart said:
“Scotland has a long history of welcoming refugees and people
seeking asylum. We believe that giving people seeking asylum the
right to work from an earlier point can have a positive impact on
them, their families and our communities. This means that
following a positive decision they will be better equipped to
support themselves and their families.
“These measures would also enable asylum seekers to integrate
more quickly, making a positive contribution to our workforce and
economy by reducing the cost and demand on our public services.
We ask that the Home Office engages with us to take forward this
pilot proposal, in collaboration with our partners.”
Background
Scottish Asylum Right to
Work Proposal - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Asylum seeker rights:
Letter to UK Government - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
In December 2023, the Scottish Government's independent Expert
Advisory Group on Migration and Population published the report
Asylum Seekers -
extending the right to work: evaluation, analysis, and policy
options.
