The IOM is offering an information service for migrants who may be particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Be that because their jobs have disappeared, they can't pay their rent or they find themselves homeless or ill. The information service is currently available in eight languages with one more coming soon.

"We are here to support the many migrants who are facing increasedchallenges due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Info on supportin key areas, including housing employment and benefits are availablein many languages," reads a tweet on the IOM UK Twitter feed.

"Almost every aspect of life for people living in the UK haschanged," reads a press statement from the InternationalOrganization for Migration (IOM). And those changes affect the largemigrant and refugee community in the country too.

'Migrantsat greater risk in the crisis'

"Migrantslivelihoods are often at greater risk in this crisis for severalreasons," says Dipti Pardeshi, chief of IOM's UK office. Thatsbecause they are "more likely to be working in sectors mostaffected by the crisis, such as hospitality and retail." Many alsowork as carers or in the health sector or as bus drivers, taxidrivers or couriers, which might mean their jobs are still there butthey are even more at risk of catching COVID-19 than the generalpopulation because they could be more exposed to a greater viralload.

Often,the jobs that migrants do "are likely to be self-employed or intemporary sectors," which means that it's possible they won'thave access, or it may be difficult to access the furlough schemesthat have been provided by the UK government, which offer to pay upto 80% of an employees wages until at least the end of August until a time when their employer can take them back to work again.

Anadditional risk for migrants, says Pardeshi, is that they tend to beliving in rented accommodation, "which puts them at additional riskof eviction if they have lost their income due to the crisis."

Thereis lots of official information from the UK government about how youcan access the job retention schemes mentioned above. However, some migrants have "difficulty navigating thesupport systems that have been put in place,"Pardeshi says.Some may alsostruggle to access or understand the UK government information.That's why IOM have produced advice in seven different languages totry and overcome this barrier.

'Hardship and destitution'

Some migrants' visa stipulations may prevent them from accessing the social welfare available in the UK. This could mean that migrants are then at "greater risk of hardship and destitution." IOM provides a website and freephone service on the following five subjects: "Health, work, benefits, visas and immigration, housing and homelessness."

On theIOM siteyou can find a "comprehensive overview" listingwhich government help schemes are available to migrants.

The websiteis availabe in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Albanian,Romanian, Vietnamese and Arabic. Polish is about to be added. Thefreephone telephone service is available in any language (0800 464 3380).

Employment and COVID-19

On the topic of employment, the website provides links for migrants if they are not ableto work, whether they are an employee or self-employed. It also liststhe rights you are entitled to if you are worried about workingduring the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thereis also a section for those who may be working without papers in theUK. In that situation, the IOM writes, it can be difficult to accessyour rights, if you essentially have no official right to work.However, there are still some things you can do, like visit aCitizens Advice Bureau or talk to Migrants Rights Charities like the Migrants' Rights Network.

Healthand COVID-19

Thereis lots of information on recognizing the symptoms of COVID-19 andgetting tested, as well as a list of what those who dont havepapers can do if they fear they may have contracted the virus.

Thewebsite reassures migrants without papers that free NHS (NationalHealth Service) treatment is available to everyone and that noimmigration checks will be carried out and that treatment and testingfor COVID-19 would be free. However, if you were to have a negativetest result but still needed treatment for another unrelated illnessthen you would be charged for that, unless it was another exemptcondition like Turburculosis (TB).

Thewebsite advises if you are worried about your eligibility fortreatment you should check on the Doctors of the World websiteto see how they might be able to help.

Accommodationand COVID-19

Interms of housing and homelessness, IOM advises that there might behelp available to you if you are struggling to pay your rent becauseyour working hours have been reduced due to the restrictions. It saysthat as of March 29 all landlords in the UK were instructed not toevict anyone for five months. In Scotland this lasts for six months.That means that even if you receive an eviction notice from yourlandlord during this period, you have a legal right to stay in yourhome.

If youdo become homeless during this period, for whatever reason, or arealready living on the streets you should turn to your localauthority. All local authorities across the UK "have beeninstructed to find suitable accommodation for street homeless duringthe pandemic."

However,they say as soon as the pandemic is over, you will likely be asked toleave whatever emergency accommodation was provided.

Thereare various phone numbers and websites listed in this sectionincluding to an organization called Street Link for those findingthemselves homeless in England. Shelter Cymru helps those homeless inWales and the Simon Community Scotland will help those in Scotland.

Project17 also helps migrant families who may find themselves homelessduring this time.

Youcan access the free telephone service by dialing this number fromwithin the UK: 0800 464 3380

You can access the website via this link: https://covid19uk.iom.int/

Originally posted here:

UK: Information service for migrants affected by COVID-19 - InfoMigrants