“When a foreigner lives with you in your land, don’t take advantage of them. Love them like one of your own.”
Leviticus 19:33-34
People seeking asylum in the UK are effectively banned from working. They can only apply to the Home Office for permission to work if they have been waiting for a decision for over 12 months, and only for a very limited selection of jobs. This means they are unable to provide for themselves and their families, and often left to live in poverty.
As Churches, we believe that people who have risked everything to find safety in Britain should have the best chance possible of living in dignity, contributing to society and integrating into their new communities.
That’s why we are campaigning for asylum seekers to have the right to work after six months, as part of the Lift the Ban coalition. It believes that the current ban is unfair, and wasteful of both public money and the talents of our population. Giving asylum seekers the right to work would help provide a route out of poverty, save public funds, and aid integration. It is also supported by two thirds of the public.
Take action
Sign the Lift the Ban petition
If you’d like to get more involved in supporting the campaign, from talking to your MP to getting others to sign the petition, then download the Lift the Ban activism pack or get in touch with us.
Find out more
Read more about why the Churches support this campaign
Visit the Lift the Ban campaign website
More JPIT resources about the asylum system
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