Written question WQ83455

The Welsh Government ReStart: Refugee Integration Project aims to aid the integration of refugees in Wales through a range of interventions, including accredited English for Speakers of Other Language courses (ESOL) and employability support.

We employ 3 Employment Engagement Officers to engage with businesses across Wales to find sustainable employment opportunities for the candidates on the ReStart Project. The project currently operates in the four asylum dispersal areas of Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Wrexham.

We recognise that many Sanctuary Seekers who come to Wales have a range of skills and are often highly educated. The project aims to recognise prior learning of individuals and identify roles where their experience can be utilised in the Welsh labour market and offer a bespoke job match approach as part of this service.

As part of the project the Welsh Government published research entitled ‘ReStart: Refugee Integration, Employer Engagement Opportunities Report’ (published in December 2020) which identifies gaps in the Welsh labour market and how refugee talent could be used to fill these.

The project has created a best practice toolkit for employers entitled, ‘Tools for harnessing the skills of refugees in your workplace.’ The toolkit supports employers who are considering hiring refugees, provides guidance for employers at each stage of the recruitment process, and aims to support ongoing retention and progression of staff. The toolkit, research and other guidance available here: https://businesswales.gov.wales/skillsgateway/recruitment-support/restart

Through the ReStart project we have been able to support refugees to restart their careers in paid employment in different industries and roles including healthcare assistant in our NHS, Covid-19 support officers for British Red Cross, Covid-19 testing centres, transport and logistics, the hospitality sector and security.

The vast majority of asylum seekers do not have the right to work in the UK and we continue to urge the Home Office to extend the right to work to asylum seekers. Providing the right to work would enhance efforts to support asylum seeker integration with our communities, address labour market shortages and support mental health and well-being, amongst other advantages.

Earlier this year, in response to the UK Government’s Nationality and Borders Bill, we wrote to the UK Government urging them not to miss this opportunity to make this change. In 2018, the Home Office committed to review the right to work as part of their Immigration White Paper but we are still yet to see evidence that this review has been undertaken.