Refugees 'better qualified' claim

Refugees said communities influenced their decision to remain in the country

Refugees living in Wales are more highly qualified than people born in the country, a new report has claimed.

The Centre for Migration Policy Research at Swansea University found at least a quarter of refugees had a degree gained in their own country.

However the group as a whole still experienced high levels of unemployment and under-employment, the report said.

The study pointed to an increasingly diverse Wales, but found there were fewer refugees than in other UK areas.

The researchers interviewed 123 refugees living in Wales on their skills, qualifications and language abilities, as well as access to housing, education and the labour market.

It also asked for their experiences in the communities they live in now.

REFUGEE FACTFILE A total of 2,322 asylum seekers had been dispersed to Wales by May 2009 56.9% of refugees in Wales are living in Cardiff, 24.2% in Swansea, 15.7% in Newport and 3.2% in Wrexham Nearly three-quarters come from nine countries: Afghanistan, China, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan and Zimbabwe One in five refugees surveyed said they might leave Wales Fewer than a third have been able to find work in Wales and most are employed in admin or clerical posts, cleaning or factory work Half of refugees surveyed have experienced negative public attitudes, discrimination and racism in Wales Source: Wales Strategic Migration Partnership / Centre for Migration Policy Research

Although nearly two-thirds were employed in their country of origin, often in highly-skilled professional jobs, fewer than a third had been able to find work in Wales and most were employed in administrative or clerical positions, cleaning or factory work.

Half the survey group said they had experienced negative public attitudes, discrimination and racism.

Many had been physically and verbally abused, often by teenagers and youths, and had suffered damage to property.

One in five said they may leave Wales, but those who wanted to stay said neighbours and community were the single most important reason for their decision.

The numbers of refugees and asylum seekers in Wales rose from 2001 when Wales became a designated dispersal area.

The report is being officially launched at the Senedd.

Social Justice Minister Brian Gibbons said: "Although immigration is not devolved, there are huge implications for the Welsh Assembly Government.

CASE STUDY Hubert Mdongompasi, Congo A former bank executive and economic adviser to leading politicians in Congo, he has spent three years working at a food factory in Newport, south Wales, where he earns £5.90 per hour. "I spent five years working in the ministry of planning. I left to join my boss who is the president of the main political party in my country. In Africa, it is not easy to do the politics. I have been subjected to political persecution. That's why I left my country. I have been trying many times to get a job. The degree from my country is not accepted in this country. I feel that is not fair. I have a family. I have to live. I do not want to rely on benefits. What I am doing now? Working in a factory. I am on a production line. This is very frustrating for me."

"We have a clear responsibility to provide services and set a strategic agenda around the issue of refugees and asylum seekers.

"I welcome the findings of this report which, for the first time, gives us real evidence of the experiences of refugees in Wales over recent years and the barriers they have faced."

Professor Heaven Crawley, director of the Centre for Migration Policy Research at Swansea University, hopes the survey will be repeated on a regular basis.

She said: "This is an important survey because it represents the first systematic attempt to understand the experiences of refugees who have been granted status and have made Wales their home.

"This information is crucial for ensuring that the Welsh Assembly Government and other statutory and voluntary service providers take the particular experiences and backgrounds of refugees into account when planning services and when implementing policies for social and community cohesion."