Lift the ban to work
We are doctors, nurses, engineers, IT specialists—people who are ready, willing and able to work.
But despite having the skills to contribute, we are locked out of the workforce by Home Office rules that make no sense.
It’s not just unjust- it’s a waste of talent. We don’t want handouts; we want the dignity that comes with earning a living, providing for our families, and contributing to the country that has offered us refuge.
Right now, while over 800,000 job vacancies exist across the UK, over 100,000 people seeking asylum are forced into poverty, unable to work while waiting months - often years - for a decision on their claims.
The UK economy misses out on the skills we can offer, and we miss out on the chance to rebuild our lives. It’s time to lift the ban, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes sense for everyone.
We have the skills. We have the drive.
All we need is the chance.
Lift the ban to work Campaign Champions:
Dr. Khadija Elhag
Abdul Rahim
We want to work
and belong
We are ready to contribute.
For us, working isn’t just about earning a living - it’s about identity, dignity and being a part of the society we now call home. We have skills, experience, and a strong desire to build new lives here. But under the current system, we are left on the sidelines, waiting in uncertainty, unable to participate fully in the communities that could benefit from what we have to offer.
We believe that, at a minimum, people seeking asylum should be allowed to work after six months, without having to navigate complex bureaucratic processes or restrictive criteria like the Immigration Salary list (formerly known as Shortage Occupation List). The current system, which forces individuals to wait indefinitely or to apply for positions only in certain sectors, wastes skills and potential.
Having the right to work isn’t just an opportunity for us - it’s about integration.
The system - as it stands - drives us underground. It pushes people into the black market, where exploitation thrives with wages at £5 per hour, and forces us to live in the shadows. Even when we finally receive a decision on our asylum claim, breaking into legal employment isn’t easy – the system has conditioned us to survive on the margins. After years of being denied the right to work, shifting into the formal economy becomes a near-impossible leap, locking us into a cycle of exclusion.
When we are allowed to work, we don’t just take from society; we contribute to it. It’s a two-way process that helps us find our place here while sharing our skills and energy. We are doctors, teachers, engineers, carers - we have the skills and the drive.
Other countries, like Germany, Ireland and Canada, understand this and allow people seeking asylum to work after six months. These policies help create healthier, more inclusive communities.
Here in the UK, 81% of the public supports lifting the ban, according to a YouGov poll conducted in March 2022.
The benefits are clear - now it’s time to make it happen.
