The Greens are concerned that asylum seekers on bridging visas will not be granted work rights as promised by the federal government.
It was one of the concessions Senate crossbenchers negotiated with the government in exchange for their support of controversial migration legislation that cleared parliament earlier in December.
A immigration department communique sent to migration agents says individuals will have to apply directly to Immigration Minister Scott Morrison.
"The minister, in the form of a submission, can only grant work rights through personal intervention," it says.
This means he will have to potentially grant 28,000 approvals.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young accused the minister of setting himself up as the gatekeeper.
Her concern is that most asylum seekers will be left without work rights because of the sheer volume of interventions required.
"Scott Morrison has conned the crossbench with a dodgy deal and it's the (asylum seekers) who have lost out," she said.
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