Glasgow houses hundreds of asylum seekers

Both areas are suffering a shortage of qualified staff and skilled workers.

The move is being backed by the Scottish Executive and Glasgow City Council, which houses the majority of asylum seekers in Scotland.

About 75% of those seeking asylum in Scotland have professional qualifications.

Authorities believe a potential workforce of more than 4,000 people could be created in an effort to boost the Scottish economy.

Asylum claims

At present, asylum seekers cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds as they are barred from working until their claims are processed by the government.

Glasgow City Council wants the Home Office to relax regulations and allow people seeking asylum to work while their claims are being processed.

Councillor Archie Graham said: "These people are genuine. They are professional people who have fled the most terrible of circumstances.

"If they are not allowed to work then they will be accused of being scroungers, sponging off the state and if they are allowed to work then some people will say they're taking jobs that should rightfully go to the indigenous population.

"They're damned if they do and damned if they don't."

The executive and the council want the Home Office to recognise the difference between the asylum seeker issues north and south of the border.

The Home Office is not planning any changes

Unlike Scotland, the population in England is growing and the majority of asylum applications are rejected.

A spokesman for the executive said that once asylum seekers were granted refugee status they were free to work.

He added that there was no doubt that those who make their homes in Scotland contributed greatly to the economic, social and cultural life of the country.

Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes said her department was not considering any shift in policy.

"We're certainly not going to relax the rules on allowing asylum seekers to work while their claims are being processed.

"It's vitally important, not least for the public in Scotland, so that they have confidence that the asylum system is for asylum.

"People who can contribute to our economy, we want you but come in through the open, legal routes we're providing."

Sally Daghlian, chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council, said: "It just makes absolutely no sense to have people sitting at home in enforced idleness when they could be contributing to the economy while we are actually recruiting abroad to fill those skills."

Frontline Scotland investigates the asylum seeker employment issue. Situations Vacant is transmitted on Tuesday, 25 May at 2235 BST on BBC One Scotland.