#LiftTheBan: give people seeking asylum the right to work
Refugee Action is part of a coalition of over 300 charities, trade unions, businesses, faith groups and think tanks.
Together, we believe we can #LiftTheBan and ensure that people seeking safety in the UK have the right to work.
We’ve already kicked off 2025 by dressing up in work uniforms and taking a giant banner to Parliament which said ‘We’re ready to work. #LiftTheBan.’
Now, we’re launching an open letter to tell the Home Secretary to lift the ban on work for people seeking asylum.
Sign our open letter with the Lift The Ban Coalition today.
In 2020, we presented the Home Office with a petition signed by more than 180,000 people calling on the Government to lift the ban.
In March 2022, YouGov polling found that 81% of the public support the right to work for people seeking asylum in the UK.
It’s not just nonsensical, the ban is harmful to everyone involved. It takes the toughest toll on people seeking asylum, but the UK economy also misses out on tax revenue and much-needed specialists by leaving people frozen in poverty. The time has come to #LiftTheBan. Sign our open letter and add your name to our fresh calls.
Banned from working – waiting months, even years
Right now, right here in the UK, people seeking refugee status are banned from working while they wait months, and often years, for a decision on their asylum claim.
Instead, many are left to live on just £7 per day, struggling to support themselves and their families, whilst the Government wastes the talents of thousands of people.
We think that’s wrong. We believe that people who have risked everything to find safety should have the best chance of contributing to our society and integrating into our communities. This means giving people seeking asylum the right to work so that they can use their skills and live in dignity.
Allowing people seeking asylum to work could benefit the UK economy by more than £280 million each year
Time To Lift the Ban Report
This Time to Lift The Ban coalition report shows how clear the evidence in favour of giving people seeking asylum the right to work is.
One common myth is that employment rights act as a “pull factor” for people who seek safety in the UK. In reality, all available evidence suggests that employment rights play little or no role in determining people’s choice of destination when they are seeking safety, and are largely unknown to people seeking asylum before they arrive here. This Lift the Ban coalition report addresses the above “pull factor” and other myths surrounding the right to work for people seeking asylum.
It’s time to lift the ban. It’s just common sense.
There are so many ways you can give your support
There are all sorts of ways to add your voice to our campaign on this issue. For more information on how you can get involved, download our activism pack below.
It’s full of tips and information on how to campaign in your local area.