Campaigners demand right to work for asylum seekers

The government must address the problem of destitution among asylum seekers by allowing them to work, a group of MPs and the UK's largest refugee organisation declared recently.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe (APPG) and the Refugee Council joined calls from church leaders to tackle the problem, which, they said, was clearly demonstrated by the situation facing Zimbabwean asylum seekers.

In October the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal ruled that it was not safe to return asylum seekers to Zimbabwe, and last month immigration minister Tony McNulty suggested that support exists for unsuccessful asylum seekers unable to return home.

But since the ruling, Zimbabwean asylum seekers have been left in limbo. The Refugee Council pointed out that they are "unable to access support from the government, unable to work, but with no prospect of returning home."

APPG chair Kate Hoey, said: "There are Zimbabweans I know personally who have been reduced to destitution within the past few weeks even though they have skills we really need in this country such as teaching and nursing."

And Maeve Sherlock, chief executive of the Refugee Council backed the call for the right to work, saying: "It is inexcusable that we are still forcing vulnerable people into destitution."