Glasgow is home to the vast majority of asylum seekers in Scotland with the city home to 95% of the total number dispersed to Scotland.
READ NEXT: Union makes announcement on teacher strikes in Glasgow
The Home Office wrote to Susan Aitken, council leader about the employment status of asylum seekers and how they support themselves.
Currently, asylum seekers can only apply to work if their claim has been outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own.
And even then, employment is limited to occupations on the Immigration Salary List.
Angela Eagle, minister for border security and asylum, wrote to the council leader.
She said: “Whilst we keep all policies under review, there are no immediate plans to change the existing policy on permission to work for asylum seekers.
“It is important that our policy approach distinguishes between those who need protection and those seeking to work here who can apply for a work visa under the Immigration Rules.
“Individuals do not need to make perilous journeys in order to seek employment in the UK.”
Eagle also said the allowance for asylum seekers has been reduced for those in accommodation with catering.
She set out the allowance rates for the next year.
Asylum seekers living in self-catered accommodation get a total of £49.18 per week.
This is to cover £34.86 for food and non-alcoholic drinks, £1.46 for toiletries and laundry, £0.47 for non-prescription medicines, £3.43 for clothing and footwear, £4.96 for travel and £4 for communications.
For those in catered accommodation, the allowance is £8.86 a week to cover non-prescription medicine, clothing and footwear and travel.
Eagle added: “Asylum support, as you will be aware, the Home Office has an obligation to meet the essential living needs of destitute asylum seekers. “That support is usually provided in the form of accommodation and a weekly allowance to cover other essential living needs.
“The level of the allowance given to individuals on asylum support is reviewed each year to ensure it covers essential living needs.”
She added: “Like all people, asylum seekers and failed asylum seekers need to budget appropriately and plan their expenditure according to the income available to them.”
Allan Casey, convenor for Homelessness, said: This is disappointing but not surprising, given the new UK Labour Government’s appetite for continuing with so many of their Tory predecessors’ policies.
“The starting principle should be allowing those seeking asylum in the UK the right to work.
“In doing so they could improve on the near destitute conditions they and their families are forced to live in while contributing to their host communities and the overall economy .
“Instead of increasingly looking to the agendas of Reform and the Tories, a Labour government should take a pragmatic as well as compassionate approach to asylum.”
