A mobile application developed with funding from the Home Office is providing guidance to migrants who have crossed the English Channel, assisting them in finding employment and navigating British life while their asylum claims are processed.
App Content and Controversial Guidance
The app, named Just Good Work, was created partly by the charity Migrant Help, which is set to receive £385 million in Home Office funding to support asylum seekers and refugees by 2029. The application offers a range of information to its users, who include asylum seekers and those considering migrating for work.
It describes the UK as a 'beautiful country with great transport links for easy national and international travel' and states that the government 'welcomes people who want to work', highlighting the 'relatively high minimum wage and paid time off'. The app also advises on cultural norms, noting it is 'considered very rude to push your way to the front of a queue' and warns that British weather is 'very unpredictable'.
Furthermore, it contrasts rural areas, described as 'less diverse' and 'more isolated', with cities that offer 'more options for entertainment, food and social activity'. It mentions opportunities to learn about theatre and music and assures users that many organisations will help them 'when things do go wrong'.
Political Backlash and Accusations of a 'Pull Factor'
The app faced sharp criticism on Wednesday, with opponents accusing it of creating a significant 'pull factor' for illegal migration by promoting incentives. The controversy emerged as Border Force officers were seen bringing a boatload of migrants ashore at Dover, the first such incident in over a week.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp stated: 'The Home Office should not be funding or endorsing anything that markets Britain as a place to work, earn and settle while people are still in the asylum system.' He argued that deterrence requires 'real consequences' for illegal arrival, not 'state-backed help to put down roots'.
Reform UK MP Lee Anderson claimed the app exposed 'the complete lies' behind Labour's promise to tackle people-smuggling gangs, labelling them 'the party of open borders'. He criticised the use of 'hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money' to create a 'neon welcome sign for illegal migrants'.
Home Office Rules and Broader Context
Under current Home Office regulations, migrants who arrive via the Channel are permitted to apply for work if they have been waiting for more than 12 months for a decision on their asylum claim. Official figures reveal that 16,500 migrants – equating to 27% of those awaiting a decision – have been in this position for over a year.
Migrant Help developed the app in collaboration with Fifty-Eight Global through their 'Migrant Workers Advice and Guidance' project. The charity has defended its involvement, stating its contribution is limited to a section explaining UK laws, including the fact that most asylum seekers are not permitted to work, to prevent exploitation.
A spokesperson for Migrant Help said: 'This information helps prevent individuals from being drawn into illegal work, where they are at high risk of exploitation by organised criminal gangs.'
However, critics from groups like the TaxPayers' Alliance and the Centre for Migration Control argue the focus should be on domestic unemployment and that the app exemplifies chaotic policy. Robert Bates of the Centre for Migration Control commented: 'It sums up the chaotic nature of the Home Office that it is not just failing to stop the boats, but is actually funding the pull factors.'
The Home Office has sent conflicting messages, having previously confirmed funding for the app in a September 2023 statement, but a spokesperson now says: 'The Home Office does not fund this app and has no involvement in its content.'
