Only one asylum seeker has applied for an employment permit since Supreme Court ruling

Only one asylum seeker has applied for an employment permit since the absolute ban on employing asylum seekers was struck down by the Supreme Court in February.

Until the EU (recast) Reception Conditions Directive enters into force in early June, asylum seekers can access the employment permit system on the same basis as other non-EEA nationals.

However, critics points out that an asylum seeker’s access to an employment permit in practice is seriously impacted by the high salary requirement, the wide range of ineligible sectors (including hospitality, housekeeping and food), and the requirement for a valid passport.

Business Minister Heather Humphreys told the Dáil: “The interim arrangements for the short period prior to the opt-in enables those seeking international protection to access the labour market through the Employment Permit Acts.

“The Employment Permits Section of my Department inform me that one application for an employment permit has been received from an International Protection applicant and it is currently being processed.”

In February, the Department of Justice also established a self-employment scheme for asylum seekers who have waited at least nine months for a first instance decision on their application.

As of 27 April 2018, the Department of Justice had received 541 such applications for self-employment and granted 368 of those.