Cleverly told by former ministers to ditch jobs for migrants scheme

THE Home Secretary will today face demands to scrap the right for asylum seekers to work.

Two former Cabinet ministers and the New Conservatives group of MPS are calling for an end to James Cleverly’s scheme under which asylum seekers can work in shortage occupation sectors if they have been waiting for their claims to be processed for more than a year. They say it is providing a “pull factor” to encourage migrants to come to the UK, while also undercutting British workers as they are paid 80 per cent of the going rate in jobs such as care, construction and agriculture.

It follows the disclosure by The Telegraph on Saturday that nearly 16,000 asylum seekers, including those who crossed the Channel in small boats, have been allowed to work in a single year, according to data obtained under Freedom of Information laws.

David Davis, a former Brexit secretary, said: “It converts illegal migration, the wor4st kind, into the second worst which is migration that undercuts the pay of workers. It acts as an incentive for people to come here illegally. It’s clear at least some of individuals will send money home. That is a strong telegraph for others to do the same.”

Robert Jenrick, a former immigration minister, also said he believed the policy was wrong. “I don’t agree that asylum seekers should work,” he said.

“There is a very long-standing policy that dates back to the Labour government in 2005 to allow people who’ve been here for years to work where there are supposedly shortages, but it just creates a pull factor to the UK.

“And almost everyone who comes here is either an economic migrant or a sort of asylum shopper, because they’re coming from safe countries like France and choosing to come because they think life is better or a softer touch.”

The New Conservatives group of about 20 MPS is writing to Mr Cleverly asking how he can justify such a move.

“We cannot solve the significant problems associated with irregular migration unless we deter people from crossing to the UK illegally,” said Miriam Cates, co-chairman of the group.

Figures show that 19,231 migrants applied for work permits in 2022 and 15,706 applications were granted.

The scheme allowing asylum seekers to take jobs after a year is a legacy of an EU law from 2005, which reversed a measure introduced by Labour in 2002 barring illegal migrants from any right to work.

A Home Office spokesman said: “Allowing individuals who have an asylum claim outstanding for more than a year to apply for jobs limited to the Shortage Occupation List, strikes the balance between protecting taxpayer money and ensuring people are not incentivised to come to the UK illegally.

“Once employed, the individual may have their taxpayer support withdrawn, whilst boosting the economy by addressing skills shortages.”

‘People are choosing to come to the UK because they think life is better here or a softer touch’

‘We cannot solve irregular migration unless we deter people crossing to the UK illegally’