Committee urges Executive to consult Home Office on employment for asylum seekers

CEU006/2005 | 17 November 2005

The Scottish Executive has been urged to consider issues that could help asylum seekers to gain work and integrate into communities as part of its Fresh Talent initiative.

The recommendation was made in a report on the initiative published today by the Parliament’s European and External Relations committee. The aim of the Fresh Talent initiative launched by the Scottish Executive in February last year is to attract talented and entrepreneurial migrants to Scotland to offset the projected decline in Scotland’s population.

Committee Convener Linda Fabiani said: “Research conducted by the Scottish Executive found that although 21% of the refugees and asylum seekers who live in Scotland are university educated, only 7% of them are able to work and according to evidence submitted by Positive Action in Housing very few of these are in work suitable to their qualifications.

“Our committee recommends that the Executive, in its discussions with the Home Office, make the case for employment opportunities for those asylum seekers awaiting a decision.”

The committee also recommended that as well as attracting external talent, the Executive should aim to mobilise Scotland’s existing talent pool to the fullest extent, paying particular attention to the estimated 688,000 people in Scotland who are currently economically inactive.

Key findings of the inquiry include:

• The most recent population figures and projections suggest that the population will not fall below 5 million until 2017.
• Whilst Scotland’s population has been declining slowly over decades, the fall in the population of working age from around 2009 will be much greater.
• The policy lacks a way of turning the two-year visas offered to foreign students studying at Scottish institutions into something more permanent. Only through people staying here will there be an impact.
• Whilst acknowledging that this is a reserved area, there are concerns about the employment of foreign workers through gang master agencies, particularly food-related industries. Those concerns include allegations of pay below the national minimum wage and excessive working hours for foreign workers.

Background

The inquiry scrutinised the population figures behind the Fresh Talent initiative and how the policy has progressed since it was launched by the First Minister Jack McConnell in early 2004 and has made 13 recommendations for changes.

The inquiry report is entitled “An Inquiry into the Scottish Executive’s Fresh Talent Initiative Examining the Problems It Aims to Address, Its Operation, Challenges and Prospects”.

More information on the Committee’s inquiry can be found on the European and External Relations Committee homepage at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/europe/index.htm

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