Refugees wait in a crowd for transportation after fleeing from Ukraine
(Picture: AP)London business chiefs on Tuesday led a rallying call for firms to provide jobs for the thousands of refugees expected to come to the capital under the Government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme.
There were almost 19,000 Ukrainians living in London before the Russian invasion — just over half of all Ukrainians in England and Wales — and the capital is expecting an influx of refugees joining family and friends already here.
London business leaders said they would work in partnership to make sure they are fully supported and called on the Government to make employing refugees more straightforward.
Chief executive of business campaigning group London First John Dickie said: “Businesses are, like all of us, appalled at the war in Ukraine and are determined to offer humanitarian support. The most tangible way they can do this is to offer employment, which is why we are issuing a rallying cry to businesses across the city asking them to step forward and pledge jobs now so that arriving Ukrainians can be more easily matched to the capital’s vacancies at every level of the jobs market.
“Businesses know that many will need support that goes well beyond a job, for example on housing, schools and health, which is why we are also working with civil society groups, housing associations and others to ensure a joined-up response.” Foodservice company Compass Group, Edwardian Hotels, restaurateurs D&D London and Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing were among those who have already pledged to employ refugees.
London First is also calling on the Government to open a programme which would make it easier for businesses to directly sponsor refugees and allow companies to bring large numbers of workers from Ukraine to the country.
Tuesday morning, almost 90,000 Britons had signed up to offer sanctuary to someone forced to flee Vladimir Putin’s war.
Each household housing a refugee must have a room available for at least six months and will be offered a tax free £350 a month payment. The Homes for Ukraine website crashed shortly after it opened for applications Monday afternoon.
Foreign Office minister James Cleverly said he was “quite proud” that the system struggled due to the volume of people who came forward.
“I’m actually quite proud that the system struggled. We built it quickly... we’re moving quickly to ensure we’re able to help the Ukrainian refugees,” he told LBC. “I’m glad the website crashed, because it is a reflection of that generosity of the British people.”
The Government has been criticised for its slow response to the refugee crisis.
Originally only those with close relatives already in Britain were allowed to come here and they must go through security checks and apply for visas. The process includes uploading documents online and attending a one of several processing centres set up across Europe.
More than 33,000 people have so far applied for visas, but the Home Office has issued just 4,600.
