Letting asylum seekers work would save UK government £233.5 million per year

The governement could slash as much as 25% off the £233.5 million annual bill for asylum support payments if asylum seekers and those refused asylum who cannot go home were allowed to work in the UK, says a new report from a Warwick University research project. The report’s authors say the European standard is to grant access to the job market if individuals have been waiting for 6 months or more for a decision on their claim.Forcing people to live in poverty is not a deterrent for those considering coming to the UK, nor does it encourage those already here to leave, the report continues.

Welfare support levels for asylum seekers and refused asylum seekers should therefore be increased to at least 70% of Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) but ideally boosted to the JSA rate.

The study points out that asylum seekers are living on an income which is just a third of the income of the poorest 10% of British households. Asylum support costs the government £233.5 million annually if staffing and administration costs are included. This means that if asylum seekers were allowed to take paid employment direct public savings of up to £233.5 million per year could potentially be made.

This report is part of a broader 3 year research project being undertaken at the University of Warwick and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The project focuses on the economic rights of asylum seekers in the UK, particularly looking at the rationale behind, and outcomes of, welfare and work policies. More information about the project can be found at www.asylumwelfarework.com 

Asylum seekers in Britain can apply for permission to work only if they have waited for over 12 months for an initial decision on their asylum claim, and are not considered responsible for the delay in decision-making. However, if granted permission to work they are restricted to jobs on the shortage occupation list, which presents a barrier to employment for the majority of asylum seekers. This list currently includes jobs such as “skilled classical ballet dancers who meet the standard required by internationally recognised United Kingdom ballet companies”, “nuclear medicine technologists” and “manufacturing engineers (purchasing) in the aerospace sector”. Studies have found that most asylum seekers who wish to work either have qualifications from their home country which require additional (and costly) conversion courses, recognition processes which are beyond their means (such as teaching), or would like to find low skilled or unskilled work . In effect, this means that the vast majority of asylum seekers do not have any form of access to paid employment in the UK. Refused asylum seekers have no right to work. By putting significant restrictions on labour market access the UK government makes itself liable for the accommodation and living costs of asylum seekers and refused asylum seekers.