The majority of Scots believe people seeking asylum should have right to work.
New figures show that 62 per cent of the Scottish public support giving people the right to work while waiting for a decision on their asylum applications.
Currently, people are not allowed to work until they receive refugee status, something that can take many months and even years.
During this time people seeking asylum are dependent on financial support from the UK government, which can be as little as 10% of the rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Extending the right to work to allow people to support themselves and their families is backed by politicians of all parties as well as the public.
Last year the Scottish Government published proposals for a pilot scheme which would give people seeking asylum the right to work after six months – however they would need the support of the UK Government to proceed with the scheme.
The survey, carried out by Survation on behalf of Scottish Refugee Council on our 40th anniversary, polled more than 2100 people from across Scotland.
Nearly half of those surveyed also believe that people seeking asylum have more money to live on than they do in reality.
Figures showed that 47% of people believe that asylum seekers receive more than £50 each week, while 23% believe it is £100 or more.
Only a quarter of Scots (25%) correctly recognised that people seeking asylum live on less than £50 per week – with many forced to live on less than £10.
People currently living in accommodation where meals are provided receive just £8.86 per week, while people staying in accommodation with facilities to cook their own meals have £49.18 to spend per week.
‘We’ve known thousands of qualified doctors, nurses, teachers who have been denied the right to earn a living’
Sabir Zazai, CEO of Scottish Refugee Council said: “It’s great to see the high level of support for the right to work for people in the asylum system. Our charity has helped people rebuild their lives in Scotland for forty years. During this time, we’ve known thousands of qualified doctors, nurses, teachers who have been denied the right to earn a living while waiting years for a decision on their asylum application. This takes a huge toll on people whose lives have been turned upside down by events beyond their control.
“Many of the men and women using our services have expressed their frustration at not being able to work and provide for themselves and their families. We have been told repeatedly: ‘We don’t want handouts, we want to work.’”
‘There is a clear disconnect between how much people seeking asylum actually have to live on, and how much the wider public think they do’
Scottish Refugee Council policy specialist Daniel O’Malley said: “This polling shows that there is a clear disconnect between how much people seeking asylum actually have to live on, and how much the wider public think they do.
“When you consider that £8.86 per week – just £1.26 per day – is supposed to cover transport, clothing, toiletries and other basic essentials, it doesn’t go far. We might think of hotels as a luxury, but the reality of staying long-term in a hotel rooms and living on less than £10 a week is really tough. Everyone needs a safe home and enough money to cover the basics, including those who are coping with the anxiety and stress of fleeing warzones and violent regimes.
“The current asylum system traps people in poverty while at the same time prohibiting people from earning a living to support themselves and their families.”
