VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – A decision by the Maltese goverment to revoke unexpectedly a scheme without any reason that used to give migrants the opportunity to acquire an indentity card for a minumum of two years left around 1,000 rejected asylum seekers stuck in a legal uncertainity. This situation is making the life of these asylum seekers more difficult because they cannot really plan their future.
The issue was also raised recently in Parliament by the Opposition asking the governement to work on a coherent policy on rejected asylum seekers. A number of rejected asylum seekers had been in Malta for many years, with some residing also in Malta for over a decade without having adequate legal protection. These undocumented persons do not enjoy full legal rights and consequently, they are left vulnerable to unscrupulous exploitation.
The scheme was launched on 15 November 2018, known as the Specific Residence Authorisation granted active contributors residing in Malta for more than five years the ability to obtain an identity card. Each qualified asylum seeker had the right for a residence permit valid for two years with the possibility of renewal, essential welfare benefits, employment licences, education and training, medical care and travel privileges. This means that these individuals cannot be married, will never be eligible for unemployment benefits and in case they have children, they will struggle to receive a basic education.
The NGO Aditus referred to the situation in Europe where many EU governments offer regularisation schemes because it is in their national interest to provide documents to asylum seekers as this prevents crime, combats poverty, stimulates economic sectors and fights racism. The NGO is urging the Maltese government to take action in order to regularise all rejected asylum seekers who have lived in Malta for five years or more and have not been returned to their country through no fault of their own.

– photo xf3/Italpress –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews