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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>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>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 evil people smugglers, rather than claim asylum in the first
safe country they reach.</p>
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