New guidance on recruiting refugees and asylum seekers has been published by the UK Border Agency.
The booklet, Guidance for employers on illegal working: refugees and asylum seekers, gives employers clear information on the documentation checks they need to carry out when recruiting refugees and asylum seekers.
It also includes details of the employment rights of refugees, the bespoke documentation that they are issued with in place of a national passport and how refugees differ from other foreign nationals in the UK.
The guidance also includes the steps employers should take for refugee job applicants who have come to the end of their leave, and have now applied for further leave to stay here.
According to the Refugee Council, refugees too often face a number of barriers accessing work and many employers do not recognise the Home Office documentation given to refugees, or are not aware of the employment rights of refugees who have temporary leave to remain in the UK.
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Donna Covey, chief executive of the Refugee Council said: “We and our partners have been recommending the UKBA publish new and up-to-date guidance for employers for some time, so we are delighted they have now done so.
“We would urge employers to take heed of the new booklet, to ensure they not only recognise refugees’ right to work in the UK, but so they can also capitalise on the amazing skills and talents refugees can bring to the British workplace.”
