The British government has presented a plan under which refugees who work in the country after receiving protection and asylum may be required to repay part of the accommodation costs and financial assistance received, up to a maximum of £10,000.
The plan, which is part of a new Immigration and Asylum Bill due to be presented to the British Parliament on Tuesday, would require asylum seekers to pay a set amount of debt to be eligible for permanent residence.
According to the British Home Office, this mechanism will be similar to the student loan repayment system, and monthly payments will begin after individuals’ income reaches a certain level. Also, people who leave the UK before paying off their loans will be required to repay the full amount upon their return.
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said that the measure is designed to reduce the financial pressure on the asylum system and that those who can afford it should contribute to meeting the costs.
The plan has met with mixed reactions, with some human rights organizations calling it unfair and an obstacle to the integration of refugees into British society.
