Immigration newsletter 06 Jun 2007

A new report examines the lives of migrants who have come to the United Kingdom from Central and Eastern Europe before and after the European Union expansion in 2004. It focused on lifestyles of migrants primarily in construction and agriculture, as well as those working as au pairs. The study tried to determine how much societal information migrants managed to obtain, details of their accommodation, leisure activities, social relationships, and their long-term plans. Many migrants did not have some important information on how to access basic services and on their labor rights. One conclusion is that the "evidence we have presented here makes a strong case for a review of national policy towards these and other new migrants."

France's new Immigration Minister, Brice Hortefeux, has proposed that France pay legal immigrants $8000 to leave France. The program would be similar to another one from 2005 and 2006 in which approximately 3,000 families accepted the offer and left. The proposal would only be available to foreign nationals who are legally in France. Hortefeux also emphasized that there will be no mass legalization of illegal immigrants and he mentioned that he favors a language test for legal migrants.

From June 1st, Switzerland is relaxing its immigration laws to allow unrestricted access to its labor market from most European Free Trade Association countries. The policy change will be given a trial run for one year. If the immigration rate increases above 10% over a three-year average, Switzerland may re-introduce the quotas. Restrictions will remain in place until at least 2011 for the ten former communist nations that joined the European Union in 2004 and 2007.

Slovenia has reached its yearly work permit quota for non-European Union citizens. About 54,000 work permits have been issued this year, prompting the government to consider increasing the quota. The government is concerned that there is a shortage of workers in certain areas of the economy. Slovenia generally only grants work permits to employers who sponsor a foreign worker. Under special circumstances, the government allows migrants to apply without a sponsor.

Russia and the EU have reached an agreement allowing easier travel in European Union Schengen countries and Russia. From June 1st, certain categories of travelers will be able to visit Russia and EU schengen nations with fewer requirements than before. 

A written request by the involved party in the host nation or a certificate proving employment in the home country will be required, such as in the case of journalists. Birth and death records can be used to obtain a travel visa to visit family gravesites.

Over 800,000 work permits have been issued to migrants working in Russia so far in 2007, a very dramatic increase from the 600,000 issued for all of 2006. Largely, the government has had some problems with people from former soviet states working in the black economy. Several recent measures have been designed to force them to participate in the legal, tax-paying part of the Russian economy.

Uzbekistan has issued a government decree to more closely track its citizens who are working out of the country. The Statistical Agency and Customs Committee must now issue a quarterly report on Uzbek citizens aboroad, and Uzbek consulates will monitor their citizen's movements. Uzbekistan citizens must purchase a work permit from the Uzbekistan government to be allowed to work abroad, and they will now be required to provide more details to their government regarding their employment and income while overseas.

For several years now, the former Federal Reserve Chairman for the United States, Alan Greenspan, has said that there is a skilled labor shortage problem in the U.S. At a dinner for business leaders last month, Mr. Greenspan said that it should be easier for foreign workers to come to America to build up U.S. infrastructure. The U.S. is debating immigration reform with the hopes of passing new federal laws by the end of the summer. Mr. Greenspan is a well-respected authority on economic matters.

A new report by the Hyundai Research Institute indicates that increasing numbers of highly skilled Koreans are leaving the country. One conclusion of the report is that Korean companies will be less competitive in the international marketplace, due to the large numbers of highly skilled Korean workers leaving the country. 

The country has a closed society that does not encourage immigrants to come into the country, but it must now reform its immigration policies. The government has begun debate on new immigration policies, and is also looking to boost domestic talent initiatives.