A study of work in relation to refugees and asylum seekers in Northern Ireland

The commitment from the Home Office in 2015 to host refugees in Northern Ireland as part of the Syrian Vulnerable Person Relocation Scheme has heightened attention towards refugee integration. (Garry J, 2018). Refugees are people who have been granted Home Office permission to stay in the UK on a well-founded fear of persecution due to race, nationality, religion, political opinion or membership of a social group. They can work, access benefits and move around the UK (Northern Ireland Assembly, 2014). In contrast to asylum seekers, who may not work, refugees are people who have been granted Home Office permission to stay in the UK on a well- founded fear of persecution due to race, nationality, religion, political opinion or membership of a social group. The Northern Ireland Executive has responsibility for implementing the scheme and for working with delivery partners and organisations. (UNCHR, 2017)

The division in Northern Ireland can be categorised into us, them and other. Other is generally reserved for those who are not local who are more likely to be targets of racism. (Malischewski 2013) The Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 was the first major piece of legislation specifically to address discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity. (STEP 2010) It prohibits discrimination on 'racial' grounds in employment, education, goods, facilities and services. The most recent Racial Equality Strategy (2015 - 2025) was prepared to provide a benchmark that helps to tackle inequalities and maximise opportunities presented by ethnic minorities. The Strategy focuses on identifying and responding to the needs of different people and different communities and ensuring that everyone here is accorded their human rights.

The recent commitment by Northern Ireland to the Syrian Vulnerable Relocation Scheme brings a heightened attention to questions around integration of refugees and asylum seekers in relation to social rights. Refugees are not part of the points-based system: where migrants are required to meet particular skill and experience levels and employers are given sponsorship duties. They are able to work in the UK without any restrictions and, in common with other employees in the UK, are covered by the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998 (All Parliamentary Group, 2017)

Refugees' lack of understanding of the labour market, pathways to employment and their options, including vocational training and apprenticeships, can limit their opportunities to gain meaningful employment, which makes best use of their skills (Scottish Government, 2018) Some refugees have reported a sense of shame being on benefits because they are fit and healthy. Refugees became disempowered and have a lack of confidence to challenge and this has been a key factor in excluding them from effective access to rights (Strang 2018).

Employability is a means and marker of integration. Rights and citizenship are proposed as a basis for articulating the (potentially conflicting) assumptions and principles that shape policy. (Ager and Strang 2008). There is a link between social policy, social citizenship and devolution (Mulvey 2018) This research will address the question of work in relation to refugees and asylum seekers in Northern Ireland as a means of claiming social rights within a 'multi-tiered' policy system (UNCHR, 2017). It will address self-agency whilst considering the added complexity of Northern Ireland being a 'divided society' itself. (Malischewski, 2013) a 'divided society' through an in-depth understanding of self agency.