A RESTAURANT in Malvern is backing calls to allow asylum seekers the right to work in the UK as their claims are being processed.
Bar Limon on Church Street backs the Lift the Ban campaign which urges the government to rethink the ban on people seeking asylum from working while they wait months or years for a claim decision.
The move hopes to reduce taxpayer expenses, boost the economy and allow asylum seekers to support themselves and settle into new communities.
The tapas restaurant is backing the calls following worrying statistics about unfilled jobs within the hospitality sector.
Last year, Government figures showed over 120,000 unfilled hospitality positions alone while people seeking asylum can undetake only 23 highly-specific roles after waiting 12 months.
Unable to earn, Government rules force most of them to rely on the taxpayer for accommodation and food.
Lucy Dunlop, owner of Bar Limón, said: “Bar Limon recognises the enormous contribution people coming from a wealth of backgrounds make to society.
“Bar Limon is built on diversity and creativity. In sectors that are struggling to recruit, such as hospitality, it is just common sense that we should allow all people who are willing and able to work to apply for jobs.
“It is good for business and it is good for the local economy.”
As part of the restaurants calls, in the first week in June, members of West Midlands Lift the Ban, with the support of Bar Limón, will be visiting Malvern businesses to grow support for the campaign.
Hundreds of organisations already back Lift The Ban, and the organisation are hoping to add some of Malvern’s most popular businesses to the list.
Rebecca Johnstone, a local Lift the Ban volunteer, added: “The ban makes it impossible for those seeking asylum to support themselves.
“Everyone loses: they lose purpose and self-esteem, while the costs of supporting them fall on the taxpayer.
“Lifting the ban will bring much-needed skills and energy to the workforce, reduce the burden on the taxpayer, and perhaps even improve perceptions of the asylum system in the UK.”
Lift the Ban has been running for 6 years and is made up of over 300 organisations working to restore the right to work for people seeking sanctuary in the UK.
A new asylum bill currently going through Parliament is being seen by Lift the Ban as an opportunity for the Government to change legislation around the issue.
Visit www.lifttheban.co.uk for more information.
