International protection applicants in Ireland face significant barriers when it comes to finding work, according to a recent report by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). The study found that despite having the legal right to work, asylum seekers and refugees struggle to access employment due to a variety of factors including language barriers, discrimination, and limited access to education and training. In this article, we will explore the challenges faced by international protection applicants in the Irish job market and the potential solutions to alleviate this issue.
New reports have highlighted the difficulties faced by international protection applicants when trying to secure employment opportunities in their host countries. Despite having the legal right to work, many applicants struggle to find suitable jobs due to various barriers, including language skills, limited work experience, discrimination and cultural differences.
According to a recent report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), many asylum seekers in Ireland have taken up the right to work since changes were made to the law in 2018. However, the report also found that significant barriers remain, with low-skilled and poorly paid jobs the most commonly available options. Furthermore, due to language and cultural barriers, some applicants struggle to navigate the job market and gain access to employment services, which can significantly hinder their job search efforts.
Similarly, in the UK, international protection applicants face significant challenges when looking for employment. A report from the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) highlights that many applicants are trapped in a cycle of low-paid, insecure work, leaving them at risk of exploitation and unable to fully integrate into their new communities. Some employers are reluctant to hire asylum seekers due to biases and misconceptions surrounding their status, while others simply lack awareness of the right to work policy for asylum seekers.
The situation is equally bleak in many other European countries. In Germany, for example, only around 20% of asylum seekers are currently in employment, despite having the legal right to work since 2015. A lack of language skills, limited qualifications and discrimination were cited as the main barriers to employment in a report from the Institute for Employment Research. Similarly, in Sweden, many asylum seekers face significant challenges in finding employment opportunities, including a lack of understanding from employers and a lack of vocational training programs tailored to their needs.
To address these issues, many advocates are calling for greater support and resources to be made available to international protection applicants, including better language and vocational training programs, improved access to employment services and initiatives to combat discrimination in the workplace. Governments and employers alike also need to do more to recognize the talents and potential of these applicants and provide them with adequate opportunities to live and work with dignity in their host countries.
In conclusion, despite having the legal right to work, international protection applicants face significant barriers when trying to secure employment opportunities in their host countries. To overcome these obstacles, greater support and resources are needed to help applicants develop the skills and experience necessary to compete in the job market, as well as initiatives to combat discrimination and prejudice. By providing these much-needed resources and opportunities, we can help to create a brighter future for international protection applicants and enable them to fully integrate into their new communities.
