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<p>Asylum seekers cannot work unless they have had their asylum claim outstanding
for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own. Those who apply and are granted
permission to work after 12 months are restricted to applying for jobs on the Shortage
Occupation List (SOL). This is based on expert advice from the independent Migration
Advisory Committee.</p><p> </p><p>Our current policy approach on permission to work
is longstanding and there are no plans to make changes, other than aligning it with
the upcoming Immigration Salary List, which replaces the SOL. It is important that
we distinguish between individuals who need protection and those seeking to work here
who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules. The government has always
been clear that asylum seekers do not need to make perilous journeys in order to seek
employment in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Unrestricted access to employment could act as
an incentive for more migrants to choose to come here illegally; leading to further
dangerous journeys across the Channel and supporting the business model of people
smugglers, rather than claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.</p>
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