This morning.
Further to the Supreme Court ruling last May that the ban preventing asylum seekers is unconstitutional…
The Irish Times reported that Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan is to bring the Government’s plans to allow asylum seekers work to Cabinet next week.
Fiach Kelly reported:
Asylum seekers who spend more than nine months in the direct provision system without having their case decided on are to be given the right to work, become self-employed or access training.
…Under the Minister’s proposals, those who meet the criteria will be entitled to work by way of renewable six-month permits.
However, the right will be subject to some restrictions, such as areas of the economy in which those concerned can work.
… Those eligible to work will be given a “temporary and renewable” six-month stamp from the Department of Justice, which will also allow them to become self-employed or access vocational training.
However, access to work will be allowed to “certain but restricted sectors of employment”, and these areas of work will be kept under review.
The right to work will not be given to those whose status is decided within nine months, or those who seek to appeal or review a decided status.
Ministers to approve work rights for asylum seekers (The Irish Times)
Readers may wish to note that, in 1999, there was a brief reprieve for certain asylum seekers from the work ban.
Following widespread calls from business groups, trade unions and advocacy groups – and a U-turn by Fianna Fail – the then Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats coalition allowed asylees work.
The work initiative allowed for asylees, who had applied for protection before July 26, 1999, and who had been waiting on a decision on their application for over 12 months, to apply for work.
By the end of June 2000, 1,032 out of 3,241 asylees entitled to work had either found a job or had stopped claiming social welfare.
In addition, this right to work was on a non-transferable basis, so that an asylee couldn’t work independently of a job specified by a prospective employer, while the employer also had to pay a monthly fee of IR£25 – or a one-off annual fee of IR£125 – to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
It’s about time.
Every scam artist & waster from Africa – on the way after this dreadful decision.
+1
Hopefully
This is good news.
I wonder how may asylum seekers are waiting more than 9 months to have their case decided…
yer wan in the picture should have layed out her sign landscape.
she’d be no good as a content writer..
I thought that said “Allow us to contrib lite”. Was thinking, ‘that’s a bit lazy’.
Does this mean asylum seekers will now be able to pay our legal friends their outrageous fees for endless appeals, or is the taxpayer still on the hook?
Let me guess………….
It sounds like someone who appeals a decision would have to leave their job. Weird and cruel if so.
A person that has been denied asylum should be deported, not allowed endless appeals.
On reflection: A person that has been denied asylum should be allowed (up to) one appeal, then deported.
An appeal should only be allowed if new evidence provided and whoever is appealing should be kept in secure accommodation.
Ah let em work. I imagine all our Syrian refugees/ asylum seekers will be wanting to head home now that ISIS are about to be finished off. And the only other real wars left are in Yemen and Afghanistan now.
Besides who else are we going to let out that 40 in a room premium accomodation units to?