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Dr Allan Njanji. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Spain\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We should be asking clear questions:\u00a0what are the long-term financial costs of banning people from work?\u00a0What does prolonged exclusion do to mental health and community cohesion?\u00a0What would happen if we allowed people seeking asylum to contribute from day one?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Across Europe, there is data to examine. Countries that enable earlier labour market access often see stronger integration outcomes. Spain\u2019s move goes further by addressing the reality of irregular status head-on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The UK\u2019s 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?\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n That is not radical. It is pragmatic.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dr Allan Njanji\u00a0is a refugee advocate\u00a0and Big Issue Changemaker for 2026<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this?\u00a0Get in touch and tell us more<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Advertising helps fund Big Issue\u2019s mission to end poverty<\/p>\n Reader-funded since 1991 \u2013 Big Issue brings you trustworthy journalism that drives real change.<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/800x250-bookazine.png\")
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