Minutes:
The following Motion was moved by Councillor K Sandhu and seconded by Councillor C Thomas:
“This Council believes that:
People seeking asylum want to be able to work so that they can use their skills, contribute to the economy and our society by making the most of their potential, integrate into their communities, and provide for themselves and their families;
Restrictions on right to work can lead to extremely poor mental health outcomes, and a waste of potentially invaluable talents and skills both for the economy of Coventry and the UK;
Allowing people seeking asylum the right to work would therefore lead to positive outcomes for those seeking asylum in Coventry and for the local and national economy;
The Council resolves to:
Join the Lift the Ban Coalition, which is campaigning to restore the right to work for everyone waiting for more than 6 months for a decision on their asylum claim;
Call on the UK Government to make changes to national policy and legislation to restore the right of asylum seekers to work;
And use its role in the city and work with partners to promote education, training, volunteering and pathways into paid employment for asylum seekers and refugees so they can contribute to Coventry’s economy and feel part of our communities”.
The following amendment was moved by Councillor A Andrews and seconded by Councillor M Lapsa and, in accordance with the Constitution, accepted by Councillor K Sandhu:
After “The Council resolves to”, delete the second sentence of the following paragraph, which reads “Call on the UK Government to make changes to national policy and legislation to restore the right of asylum seekers to work” and insert the following sentence: -
“Welcomes the Government’s ongoing review into its policy on restricting asylum seekers’ rights to work”.
The amended debate now to read: -
“This Council believes that:
People seeking asylum want to be able to work so that they can use their skills, contribute to the economy and our society by making the most of their potential, integrate into their communities, and provide for themselves and their families;
Restrictions on right to work can lead to extremely poor mental health outcomes, and a waste of potentially invaluable talents and skills both for the economy of Coventry and the UK;
Allowing people seeking asylum the right to work would therefore lead to positive outcomes for those seeking asylum in Coventry and for the local and national economy;
The Council resolves to:
Join the Lift the Ban Coalition, which is campaigning to restore the right to work for everyone waiting for more than 6 months for a decision on their asylum claim; Welcomes the Government’s ongoing review into its policy on restricting asylum seekers’ rights to work.
And use its role in the city and work with partners to promote education, training, volunteering and pathways into paid employment for asylum seekers and refugees so they can contribute to Coventry’s economy and feel part of our communities.”
RESOLVED that the amended Motion, as set out above, be unanimously adopted.