THE Scottish government will publish plans to allow asylum-seekers the right to work next year, a minister said today.

SNP Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees Emma Roddick pledged to pilot a restoration of the right to work following a recommendation from the government’s Independent Expert Advisory Group on Migration and Population.

The advisory group’s chairwoman, Rebecca Kay, said there was “strong international evidence that strict restrictions on the right to work have negative consequences for asylum-seekers’ material and emotional well-being — and for long-term integration outcomes.”

The group’s latest report argued that restoring the right to work could add £30 million per year on average to the Scottish economy.

The right for asylum-seekers to see work was axed by Tony Blair’s government in 2002 in a bid to “distinguish asylum from economic migration,” before they partially restored it in 2005 to those who had waited more than a year for their asylum claim to be processed.

New Labour’s ban was further tightened by the coalition government in 2010, which restricted work to “shortage occupations” after the first 12 months.

Ms Roddick said: “Scotland provides a welcoming home to many people seeking asylum, with policies underpinned by dignity, respect and compassion.

“This independent report shows how enabling asylum-seekers to find work could reduce anxiety and improve the well-being of vulnerable people, while supporting Scotland’s economy by helping fill skills shortages and addressing population challenges.

“As the UK government continues to pursue repugnant policies on asylum and immigration, we are developing mitigations as far as possible within our devolved powers.”

A British government spokesperson said: “Allowing asylum-seekers the right to work sooner would undermine our wider economic migration policy by enabling migrants to bypass work visa rules.”