All he wants is the chance to work for a living Pakistani asylum seeker Syed Ejaz Hussein Zaidi at his share house in Dandenong. SYED Ejaz Hussain Zaidi feared for his life so much he boarded a rickety boat and spent eight days and nights at sea with 145 others hoping to start a new life in Australia. After being intercepted by border patrol off Ashmore Reef, he was taken to Darwin and spent two months in a detention centre. But it is the seven months he has spent living in Dandenong since that has upset him most. Because of us not being allowed to work, it is a harsh truth we are facing. Lots of problems, lots of financial problems," he said. I am, as a person, completely keen to work if we are allowed because we don't want to be a burden on the Government of Australia. Hell of a life in limbo for refugees Syed fled Pakistan because, as a Shia Hazara, he said he was threatened by militant persecution. Now he cannot afford basic medical, transport and living costs, relies on limited federal government funding and is pleading to be allowed to work to live. He said many asylum seekers in the community were highly skilled and willing to work. "They can work, they are willing to work, they are completely entrusted to work," he said. They have very, very good skills. They are carpenters, mechanics, electricians. There are many good persons, but since they are not allowed to work they are sitting at home and they are doing nothing. "It gets you down," he said. It turns the people into tense situations. It turns the people into depression because they are having lots of problems here.