'I could not afford sanitary towels': Asylum seekers, charities and firms join forces to call for UK jobs ban to be lifted

Almost 90 organisations have called for asylum seekers to be allowed to take jobs in the UK while their claims are processed.

Lifting the ban on asylum seekers working could raise more than £42.4m for the government, improve asylum seekers' wellbeing and help them settle into communities, according to research by Refugee Action.

The charity has joined a coalition including Crisis, Ben & Jerry's and the Trades Union Congress in a campaign to "lift the ban".

It is an idea that 71% of the public would support, according to a survey by think tank British Futures.

Asylum seekers in the UK are not currently allowed to work while their claims are being processed by the Home Office, instead receiving housing support and an allowance of £5.39 a day.

Refugee Action found most struggled to get by on that amount - with 52% in a survey of 246 people resorting to food banks to cover their basic needs.

"There were times I could not afford sanitary towels. I would walk into public toilets and steal toilet paper to use," Faith, who had a well paid NGO job in her home country, told the survey. "How dehumanising is that?"

Responding to the campaign, the Home Office stressed that refugees could work once their asylum claim was approved, and that during the wait they were given furnished accommodation and an allowance.

"This is to protect the resident labour market and ensure access to employment is prioritised for British citizens and those lawfully resident here, including refugees," a spokesperson told Sky News.

But Refugee Action believes being unable to work pushes asylum seekers into poverty, endangers their mental health, and lays their professional skills and ambitions to waste.

"People seeking asylum tell us every day that they feel worthless and that being unable to use their skills over a long period of time forces them to be dependent," said Stephen Hale, the organisation's chief executive.

The skills of refugees are not negligible: of the group surveyed 74% had secondary level education and 37% a degree, while 94% said they wanted to work.

Alexander, a graphic designer from Belarus, said he had "fallen behind" while he waited for asylum, and when he was finally allowed to work, his period of unemployment made it hard to get a job.

"Mentally, that destroys you," he said. "It is difficult to return to a positive state of mind when you've been in the system so long."

Alexander eventually found a job, after being prohibited from working for 18 months. Although those waiting for more than 12 months are allowed to work, they must pick from a "shortage occupation list" of highly specialised jobs that few qualify for.

The UK has one of the most restrictive labour markets for asylum seekers in Europe. In Sweden and Portugal, asylum seekers are allowed to work almost immediately, while in France and Spain they must wait six months.