Asylum Seekers must have the Right to Work.

Our right-wing media often platforms writers and speakers who spread lies and misinformation about asylum seekers. This is leading to the growth of extreme right-wing parties like Reform and the rightward slide of traditional parties like Labour and the Conservatives. So it was great to witness the rally in Sheffield yesterday, giving Asylum Seekers a voice. Many people don’t realise that asylum seekers are not allowed to work, a disgraceful situation when many have skills and experience that we desperately need to use, be it in the health service, industry, care sector, IT or whatever. Most asylum seekers are desperate to work to earn a living, pay taxes and contribute to our society.

First Melinda introduced Joseph Patemba who shared his lived experience of being an asylum seeker in Britain today. The conditions in the hotel he had to stay in were awful. When he moved to a shared house his housemate committed suicide, due to the pressures of the system and not being able to work. Listen to his story.

Victoria explained that she was forced to live without any income at all, for 3 months.

Eve spoke for Voice of Voiceless Immigration Detainees Yorkshire and told the story of Dr Pious Nyandoro who suffered for 20 years as an asylum seeker, not being able to access work or housing. He eventually took his own life because of the hostile environment created by our politicians.

Assist is an excellent charity that supports asylum seekers in Sheffield and Jake Clarke spoke for them. He asked “Has the Government and Local Authorities read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? I don’t think they have as they are currently aiding a Genocide in Gaza and they are watching another Genocide in Sudan, and they carry on in the destruction of our planet, but in Article 23, it clearly states in bold THE RIGHT TO WORK. “

Cllr Brian Holmshaw from Sheffield Green Party explained how the Council could go further in helping getting the ban lifted. Sheffield is already a City of Sanctuary but we could become an accredited Council of Sanctuary

Sahail spoke for Sheffield Stand up to Racism and urged everyone to turn out on Saturday 8th November, to the counter protest that aims to stop the racist UKIP marching through the city. UKIP is led by nazi-saluting Nick Tenconi. Gather at 12 noon at Sheffield Cathedral.

Maria Vasquez-Aguilar from South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group and Chile Solidarity Network celebrated the victory of Zohran Mamdani in New York but railed against Sheffield’s David Blunkett, who was responsible for banning asylum seekers from working when he was Home Secretary..

Sam Morecroft spoke for Sheffield Trades Council and pointed to the massive needs in our health service. Forinstance we need 32000 more nurses. It is crazy that many trained nurses are not allowed to apply for these jobs that desperately need doing.

Find out more about Lift the Ban here. Please write to your MP today and ask for an end to the ban on asylum seekers working.