'Let Moray's asylum seekers find jobs'

MORAY'S asylum seekers should be allowed to work while their claims to remain in this country are being considered.

That's a viewpoint which members of Moray Council will be asked to back next week.

At present, asylum seekers, such as the 50 housed at the Eight Acres Hotel in Elgin, are allowed to volunteer but cannot get a paid job.

They are instead provided with accommodation and support to meet their essential living needs.

Two SNP councillors who are both seeking their party's nomination to fight the next Westminster election are together bringing a motion to Wednesday's meeting of the full council.

The motion states: "People seeking protection in the UK should be able to work and make the most of their potential.

"Restrictions on right to work can lead to extremely poor mental health outcomes and waste of potentially invaluable talents and skills, both for the local economy and wider society.

"Allowing people seeking asylum the right to work would lead to positive outcomes for individuals as well as benefitting public and private sector organisations in the region who are struggling with recruitment and retention."

The motion to Wednesday's meeting calls on the council's leader to write to the UK Government "setting out the significant workforce pressures Moray is currently facing" and urging a change in the law.

It is being proposed by Jérémie Fernandes (Elgin North, SNP) and seconded by Graham Leadbitter (Elgin South, SNP).

Cllrs Fernandes and Leadbitter have both put their names forward as prospective candidates for the newly created Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency.