'Asylum seekers like me are a wasted resource'

Mohsen is among the asylum seekers in Leeds calling on the government to "lift the ban" on work permits

At 36 years old, starting a life "from zero" was not the dream Mohsen carved for himself. Fearing for his safety, the carpenter was forced to flee Iran, seeking asylum in the UK.

But with strict stipulations on the right to work, starting from scratch is the reality for many asylum seekers in the UK.

Mohsen is among those in Leeds calling for an end to what they call an "unfair" work ban. The BBC has been to meet them.

"I hate to take benefits but there is a problem in the system", said Mohsen, who travelled to the UK by sea.

His journey across the world took more than a year, but he considered it his "only option".

"In Iran, you should only keep your family religion; if you consider changing it, the government do not accept it; they keep you in prison and give you a fine," he said.

"Until the end of your life they are watching you."

Government statistics suggest that in 2024, 108,138 people claimed asylum in the UK, 18% more than in 2023.

According to Asylum Matters, a charity working with refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, the vast majority of people seeking asylum are barred from working or live on government support.

Permission to work can be applied for after a year of waiting.

• Immigration explained: Migrants, refugees, and visas defined

In the last few months, Mohsen has been granted a work permit, but because of the strict rules, he is unable to apply his experience in the construction trade.

Workers must gain a UK-recognised qualification before entering a trade.

"For me it is awful, I just take pieces of wood and I smell it because I miss it," Mohsen said.

"Desperately, I am looking for a job but they need a certificate, there is no assessment so I must start from zero.

"They should consider your experience and assess you and see what level you are."

According to the government, allowing asylum seekers the right to work sooner would "undermine the UK's wider economic migration policy by enabling migrants to bypass established work visa rules".

Mohsen, however, believes he is a "wasted resource".

"They could use people like me in the right way; just imagine if I could run my business here, I could hire people who are desperately looking for a job, but what I have to do is search for any job."

Tabita Tariq said she wanted to contribute to society with her nursing background

Originally from Pakistan, Tabita Tariq could not divulge the circumstances which brought her to the UK in 2014 - only that it involved modern slavery.

After seeking help, she was granted asylum but told the BBC being unable to work had affected her mental health.

"Work means everything to me; it is like an oxygen, you cannot live without oxygen," she said.

"Not working damages you; it has destroyed me."

As a nurse, Tabita believes the UK is "missing an opportunity" by not allowing her to work, especially during the pandemic.

"I am offering my hand to be a part of the community, but they shackle my hands.

"We are calling on the government to lift the ban."

Akhona Ndudane is backing calls for the government to give asylum seekers the right to work.

Akhona Ndudane arrived in the UK from South Africa in 2004, and said working could have a "huge" impact on asylum seekers.

"We have skills coming from our country, being dependent affects our mental health," she said.

"You feel lonely.

"Give [asylum seekers] a chance; we are here to help develop the UK."

Alex Sobel, Labour MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, said denying asylum seekers the right to work was "not just unfair - it's harmful, both to individuals and to our society as a whole".

He said: "People seeking asylum bring incredible skills, experience, and ambition, yet they are forced into hardship by a system that prevents them from contributing.

"It is time for change, and the growth that Leeds could achieve if we allowed people seeking asylum to work would be an incredible boost to our economy."

A government spokesperson said there were "no plans to change the existing rules on asylum seekers working".

They said: "Asylum seekers remain eligible to apply for permission to work if their claim has been outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own."

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