Research indicates that women fleeing war are often pushed into sex work in the UK due to severe economic hardship, with nearly half of them unable to afford basic hygiene products.
A recent report by a refugee women’s charity highlights the effects of the Department of Home Affairs’ job ban on asylum seekers. It reveals that 10% of the women interviewed turn to sex work as a means to provide for their children, while 38% find themselves in abusive situations. Around 50% struggle to buy essentials like hygiene products, and roughly 80% lack funds for clothing, public transport, or phone credits.
This study is unique as it focuses specifically on how job bans affect women. Women constitute about 20% of adults seeking asylum in the UK, with more than two-thirds having faced rape or gender-based violence in their home countries.
The report, titled “Safety, Survival: How job bans promote violence against women seeking asylum,” involved interviews with 117 women from 33 different countries, assessing the consequences of labor restrictions on most asylum seekers.
Despite appeals for asylum seekers to be allowed to work if their applications aren’t processed within six months, ministers have resisted such changes. Approximately 98% of the women expressed a desire to work and contribute financially. Currently, asylum support is set at £49.18 per week for those in shared housing and £8.86 for those in hotels.
One woman described becoming homeless after claiming asylum, leading her to be exploited and forced into sex work. She shared, “I became like a commercial sex worker and had money,” detailing how she sometimes exchanged sex for a place to sleep.
Another woman, desperate to feed her lactose-intolerant baby, resorted to a dating site in hopes of meeting someone who could help. Unfortunately, she was raped by a man she met there.
A third woman worked illegally as a domestic cleaner, earning just £1.50 per hour, and felt unable to voice her dissatisfaction due to her immigration status. “I’ve become like a slave to others,” she remarked.
The charity is advocating for legislation allowing asylum seekers the right to work after a six-month waiting period to mitigate the risk of exploitation during their time of financial vulnerability.
A team of seven women with experience in the asylum system has stated, “Our report shows that the job ban either traps women in abusive situations or forces them into sex work or other illegal jobs.”
Andrea Vukovic, a co-director at the charity, commented on the situation. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs noted there are no plans to modify current asylum work regulations, insisting that their goal is to provide fair and efficient asylum processes. They emphasized their commitment to meeting the essential living needs of asylum seekers, stating they are working to identify vulnerabilities and provide supportive resources.
