THE RELEVANCE OF THE RIGHT TO WORK AND SECURING EMPLOYMENT FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH OF ASYLUM SEEKERS

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 227 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Right To Work ◽  
The Right

The Asylum Procedure in Germany: Desperation and Uncertainty as Risk Factors for Violence Among Young Adult Asylum Seekers in Collective Accommodations

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052095797
Author(s):  
Ahmad Al Ajlan
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Total Institution ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Right To Work ◽  
The Right ◽  
Asylum Procedure

This study explores how violence occurs among young adult asylum seekers in collective accommodations in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. It provides an insider perspective to understand a phenomenon related to non-European people who were forced to leave their countries to seek asylum. Based on 16 qualitative interviews with young adult male asylum seekers from Syria and some African countries, seven interviews with social workers, and one interview with a German psychological therapist, the author finds that the asylum procedure in Germany as a total institution catalyzes violence among young adult asylum seekers in collective accommodations. The present study shows that collective accommodations are unhomely places, where “inmates” lack privacy and autonomy. In addition, the asylum procedure deprives them of essential human needs, such as the right to work and to have full access to the health care system. These circumstances make them uncertain and desperate, which leads to violence among them. The author calls for more attention towards the human needs of asylum seekers, rather than making them related to the granting of asylum, which can ultimately take years.

Asylum-Seekers and the Right to Work

2016 ◽  
pp. 99-120
Author(s):  
Steve Kirkwood ◽  
Simon Goodman ◽  
Chris McVittie ◽  
Andy McKinlay
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Right To Work ◽  
The Right

Legal protection of the right to work and employment for persons with mental health problems: a review of legislation across the world

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 375-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renuka Nardodkar ◽  
Soumitra Pathare ◽  
Antonio Ventriglio ◽  
João Castaldelli-Maia ◽  
Kenneth R. Javate ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Right To Work ◽  
The World ◽  
The Right ◽  
Work And Employment

The Dynamics of Political Economy in Ireland: The Case of Asylum Seekers and the Right to Work

2001 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Loyal ◽  
Ciarán Staunton
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Research Report ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Right To Work ◽  
Democratic Rights ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
The Right

This paper is partly the outcome of research that was conducted on behalf of the Irish Refugee Council between January and July 2000.' The research was prompted by the Irish Government's decision to allow the right to work to asylum seekers who had made their applications for asylum in Ireland 12 months prior to 27 July 1999. It incorporated both qualitative and quantitative techniques and included a sample of 37 asylum seekers who had received the right to work. Due to in-built research requirements, the research report focused entirely upon concrete social policy recommendations towards creating a viable, democratic, rights-based and equality focused environment within which to address the employment and social needs of Asylum Seekers. Sociopolitical analysis was therefore not the primary focus of the research. However, a re-evaluation of the findings allowed such sociopolitical themes to be subsequently explored in this article.

Restrictions on Right to Work for Asylum Seekers: The Case of the Scandinavian Countries, Great Britain and the Netherlands

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marko Valenta ◽  
Kristin Thorshaug
Keyword(s):  
Great Britain ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Right To Work ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Right

This article provides an overview of recent developments in restrictions regarding asylum seekers’ right to work in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Great Britain and the Netherlands. It is acknowledged that a distinction should be made between policies which regulate the right to work for i) asylum seekers with a pending application and ii) asylum seekers with a final refusal on their application. In the article, contemporary policies as well as recent changes in regulations in the five countries are described in detail and compared. Furthermore, the article discusses potential consequences of these policies. A review of relevant public documents, research and basic statistics are used in an attempt to answer the question whether the relative strictness of policies regarding right to work can be linked to the influx and return of asylum seekers in the surveyed countries. It is argued that access to work has little, if any, effect on variations in this respect. At the same time, it is maintained that reduced access to work has unintended consequences, inter alia, contributing to a further marginalisation of asylum seekers in both the application and return phase.

Why talk of illness entrenches discrimination

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Sayce
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Security ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Stigma And Discrimination ◽  
Right To Work ◽  
The Right ◽  
Bridge Building ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – Biological understandings of mental illness are promoted by both anti-stigma campaigners and increasingly by activists protesting against social security cuts. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the pitfalls of the “illness” conceptualisation for reducing discrimination, comments on divisions between those arguing for a right to work and those who seek a right not to work, and proposes bridge building and more effective messages, drawing on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Design/methodology/approach – Review of relevant evidence on the effectiveness or lack of it of the “mental illness is an illness like any other” message in anti-stigma work, and discussion of grey literature from campaigners and bloggers. Findings – There is a growing body of evidence that the “illness like any other” message entrenches rather than reduces stigma and discrimination: this message should not be used in anti-discrimination work. At the same time some social security bloggers and campaigners have argued they are “sick” in order to resist efforts to compel them to seek work or face sanctions; whilst older disability rights campaigners have argued for the right to work. The paper argues for new bridge building and use of evidence based messages in campaigning. Research limitations/implications – This paper is based on review of evidence on the impact of using the “illness” message to reduce stigma and discrimination; and on discussion of campaigns and blogs. It is not based on a systematic review of campaigns. Practical implications – There is a need for campaigns that support rights holistically – the right to a decent standard of living and the right to work. This requires bridge building between activists, which could usefully be rooted in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The “illness” conceptualisation is harmful to the effort to reduce stigma and discrimination. Mental health staff can act as allies to those they serve in securing all these rights. Originality/value – This is the only recent paper to analyse the evidence that the “illness like any other” message is harmful in anti-stigma work, together with its implications for the recent phenomenon of mental health campaigners moving from opposition to the medical model, to a new argument that they are “too sick” to work. This paper suggests ways forward for everyone with an interest in combatting stigma and discrimination.

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