The Right Hon Theresa May MP
Home Secretary
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF

18 February 2011

Dear Theresa,

The Right to Work

I support a change to the current law to give permission to work to asylum seekers who have not had their cases resolved in six months or have been refused asylum but cannot be returned. A Strangers into Citizens poll showed that 67% of the British public believe asylum seekers should be allowed to work and I hope that the Coalition Government will show they are listening to the views of the public.

I would argue that granting asylum seekers temporary work permits allows them to contribute to both society as a whole and specifically to the economy. It can also help asylum seekers integrate into their adopted communities and address problems such as racism and isolation. Being able to work would help asylum seekers access a decent quality of life, would afford them dignity and would reduce the number of illegal workers in the UK. Furthermore, it would remove some of the burden on the tax payer and go some way to end a situation in which those seeking asylum are unfairly penalised because of their nationality.

Given that the government is committed to reducing the number of people working illegally, surely forcing vulnerable people to choose between poverty and illegal employment is counter productive? Evidence suggests that the vast majority of asylum seekers want to work, yet the current regime makes them open to exploitation by unscrupulous employers, as well as prosecution or immediate deportation, if they seek work.
I have met one woman at a constituency surgery, an asylum seeker from Zimbabwe/Zambia who is HIV positive. She initially had financial help with her accommodation because she was diagnosed as having mental health needs. Now that her asylum case has failed and her mental health has improved (due to support she has received locally) financial help has been removed and she is struggling. She is volunteering at the Sussex Beacon but being able to work would make a real difference to her ability to support herself whilst she appeals her case.

Another constituent claimed asylum on 31st March 2008 and is still waiting for a decision. He lives with his partner and their children. He is unable to work to support his family and, as a proud man, is finding this difficult. It is also putting a strain on their relationship as he and his partner struggle to feed the family. Everyone's health is suffering as a result, as well as their mental well being.

A range of organisations support calls for asylum seekers to be able to work, including the TUC, Barnados, Amnesty International and the Immigration Advisory Service. I would like to add my voice to these calls and enquire whether the Government has any plans to review the current discriminatory guidelines on work permits.

Where asylum seekers do no have enough to live on, it leads to a higher rates of physical and mental health problems and forces them to find other survival strategies like illegal work, prostitution, begging or street homelessness. This is not in the interests of the individual affected or wider society.

Last year, the UK had the lowest number of asylum applications since 1989, but support levels are as low as 55% of Income Support for many seeking protection in this country.

If the Government is not willing to reconsider its position on the right to work for asylum seekers, I call on you to guarantee that essential living needs are met while they are awaiting the resolution of their cases.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas, MP, Brighton Pavilion

Read the Home Office's reply