Spain’s recent approach reflects that same logic. By granting status to people already living and working within its borders, the government is acknowledging reality and choosing to formalise it. The aim is not only humanitarian but also practical. It is bringing work into the formal economy, increasing tax revenue, and strengthening oversight. In short, it aligns policy with the lived reality of people’s lives. 

In the UK, the contrast is stark. People seeking asylum are largely banned from working while they wait for a decision, often for many years. During that time, they are expected to survive on minimal financial support. They are not allowed to use their professional skills. Doctors do not treat anyone. Engineers build nothing. Teachers teach no one. As campaigners we have long argued that this is not just harsh, it is inefficient. Preventing people from working increases public spending and delays integration. When status is eventually granted, individuals must rebuild confidence and employment histories from scratch. 

Dr Allan Njanji. Image: Supplied

This is not an abstract policy debate for me. It is personal. I have lived experience of the asylum system. I know what enforced waiting feels like. I also know the transformative impact of being trusted to contribute. 

Spain’s announcement strengthens the case campaigners in the UK have been making: that reform is possible, and that evidence-based alternatives exist. This does not mean ignoring border integrity or public concerns. Effective governance requires trust. But trust is not built through exclusion alone. It is built through fairness, transparency and outcomes that make sense. 

We should be asking clear questions: what are the long-term financial costs of banning people from work? What does prolonged exclusion do to mental health and community cohesion? What would happen if we allowed people seeking asylum to contribute from day one? 

Across Europe, there is data to examine. Countries that enable earlier labour market access often see stronger integration outcomes. Spain’s move goes further by addressing the reality of irregular status head-on. 

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The UK’s approach must remain grounded in this evidence. It must also remain grounded in lived experience. Policy is not just about numbers; it is about human capability. Migration is not a temporary anomaly. It is a structural feature of modern economies. The question is not whether it exists, but how intelligently it is managed. The debate should not be framed as compassion versus control. It should be framed as effectiveness versus inefficiency. Are we designing systems that maximise contribution and cohesion? Or systems that create dependency and delay? 

Spain has chosen to test one path. The UK does not need to mirror it exactly. But we should be willing to learn from it. 

Policymakers must look beyond short-term headlines and toward long-term national interest. If we focus on fairness, evidence and human potential, we can build an asylum system that is not only more humane, but more effective. 

That is not radical. It is pragmatic. 

Dr Allan Njanji is a refugee advocate and Big Issue Changemaker for 2026.

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