Allow refugees to vote and give them jobs, government urged

The government is being urged to open civil service vacancies to refugees and allow them to vote and contest national elections, following an investigation into asylum seekers’ battle against poverty.

According to research findings being published by the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) and Aditus Foundation tomorrow, a steep rise in the cost of living, rent prices and stagnant wages are the main contributors to poverty among asylum seekers.

While those interviewed acknowledged these challenges were also faced by Maltese residents, other challenges such as poor language skills, lack of Malta’s recognition of qualifications obtained in their home country, racial discrimination and limited access to financial services such as a basic bank account make it even harder for asylum seekers to break the poverty cycle.

The research includes the publication of detailed accounts of people who are struggling to make ends meet.

“If I were to sum up my situation in Malta in a few words, it would be this... at the moment I’m not living, I’m just surviving,” one father-of-two who fled Eritrea said.

The qualified midwife has been unable to secure a stable home for his family as his qualifications...