Refugees are to be given a taste of work in the public sector under a new initiative which could help those with useful skills find jobs. While many refugees may have been professionals in their home countries, they can become demoralised while seeking asylum and barred from working.

Meanwhile too many are "insulted" by an unwillingness to acknowledge the qualifications they bring with them from their home countries, according to campaigners.

Research by the New Glaswegians project suggests 70-per cent of all refugees have professional qualifications or backgrounds. The project aims to help refugees into work in areas where the city has a shortage. Of 140 refugees on the books of the project, nearly half are professionals, including doctors, administrators, accountants, teachers and IT specialists.

Now the public sector union Unison is linking up with New Glaswegians to give refugees an insight into working life in health, education and social care settings. Funded by the home office, the idea is to pair willing refugees with union members who can act as mentors, and help them overcome the barriers to working in the UK.

Initially 16 refugees will work for 10 to 12 weeks in Glasgow and South Lanarkshire, gaining new confidence, experience and a chance to demonstrate their abilities.

Zvetlana McCartney, New Glaswegians' manager, says: "All these people have valid skills and qualifications they want to contribute to this country, but are unable to do so for various reasons that may or may not be apparent to them.

"These range from race and cultural background to employers' fears that 'they just won't fit in' with their workforce or contribute to a team."

Another major problem is proof of qualifications, she adds. "Some refugees have fled their country with just the clothes on their back - no passport, certificates or any other documentation.

"For those who are lucky enough to have their certificates, there is the added insult of their qualifications not being recognised, or translated.

"Even with translation, a lot of qualifications are downgraded, so what was a degree in one country becomes an HNC here, or a doctorate becomes an ordinary degree."

The Unison project will go a long way to helping establish the right of refugees to be in this country, she adds.

Adesire to help redress the negative image of refugees is the main reason why John Howden, a hospital porter at Glasgow's Southern General, has got involved in the scheme.

He is yet to be told who he will be mentoring for 10 weeks but argues that the scheme will be "a chance to show refugees in a positive light rather than negative.

"If people see them working with you, I hope refugees can be accepted into the community, " says Howden.

"People will see that they do want to work."

In the Southern, he hopes there will be a chance for a worker to get a f lavour of a range of professions, including hospital portering, domestic work and auxiliary nursing.

"Hopefully over 10 weeks they will find an interest, and even a job at the end. There is quite a high turnover in certain areas, " Howden adds.

While some of the potential refugee participants have qualifications in biological science, nursing, and teaching most of the opportunities at the moment are in the health service.

McCartney says plans to enable wellqualified refugees to work in other settings such as schools would depend on the success of the initial pilot scheme.

Refugee participants in the scheme are provided with a personal development plan, training and work placements. Travel and childcare costs are funded to help as many participate as possible.

Elaine Rae of Unison, the project workerwho is running the initiative, says the project will support the goals of the Scottish Executive's Fresh Talent and One Scotland Many Cultures initiatives.

"Mentoring will give activists the chance to provide support through encouragement, mutual trust, respect and a willingness to learn and share. It's also a wonderful opportunity for mentors to learn about another culture."

She says the scheme would also help employers meet their responsibilities under the Race Relations Act.

"We want participants to finish their placement with improved confidence, new learning and enhanced skills."

Unison hopes that as with similar mentoring projects under the government's New Deal scheme, participants may be offered an employment interview at the end of the scheme. "We are hoping people will end up in jobs, " she says.

Degree of hope?

A Scottish Refugee Council survey of refugees and asylum seekers found that:

*Almost three quarters spoke more than one language; 10-per cent spoke four *More than half of those questioned were educated to college level. More than 10-per cent possessed a postgraduate degree or doctorate *More than 30-per cent possessed qualifications in areas where Scotland has shortages, including medicine, nursing, engineering and education *Of those who were allowed to work only 10-per cent were in employment. Of those who were working, many were significantly overqualified for their jobs, and underpaid The New Glaswegians project has already been contacted by 10 doctors, 13 administrators, nine accountants, 12 teachers, seven managers, two IT specialists and two graphic artists. Other trades have included fishermen, laundry workers, hairdressers and factory workers