Seen that? - UK Phasing Out Low-skilled immigration

Filed in archive Best of on December 16, 2009

UK Phasing Out Low-skilled immigration at Global Mobility Report

In response to dramatic increases in recent immigration levels, the British government announced limits on low-skilled immigration from outside the EU. It was reported the annual immigration level had grown to four times the number of immigrants in 1997. This is giving rise to concerns about assimilation, economic costs to the government, downward pressures on employment, etc. - all familiar themes in other "destination" countries. As part of the debate, the number [...] Read More


UK proposed changes to immigration rules for skilled migrant workers unfair at Global Mobility Report

A United Kingdom parliamentary committee criticized proposed changes announced last year to the UK's Highly Skilled migrant Program. Not only were the rules changed, but the changes were applied retroactively to people who already came to Britain under the program, making it more difficult for them to settle in Britain permanently. See MPs say immigration changes unfair, Reuters, August 9, 2007, for more information. [...] Read More


Seeking Skilled Immigrants at Global Mobility Report

Germany, like other European nations with aging populations, seeks skilled immigrants. Germany requires 85,000 euros starting annual wage for qualified workers from non-EU countries. This high threshold is criticized as too limiting and Christian Democrats want to lower the figure to 40,000 euros. Not satisfied, the Confederation of German Employers' Associations wants Germany to follow a points-based model increasingly used in other countries. This is the approach used in Australia and Canada, [...] Read More


Immigration Bill Will Take Way More Than A Week, That's For Sure at Latina Viva

Again, from The New York Times: Employers, who helped shape a major immigration bill over the last three months, said on Sunday that they were unhappy with the result because it would not cure the severe labor shortages they foresee in the coming decade. In addition, employers expressed alarm as they learned that the Senate bill would require them to check a government database to verify that all current and former employees [...] Read More


Immigration Bill Debate Extended - Oh, Really? at Latina Viva

Who would have thought? As the Senate began work on a comprehensive immigration Bill, lawmakers from both parties demanded substantial changes in the legislation on Monday and forced Senate leaders to extend debate beyond the Memorial Day recess. From the moment debate started, the crosscurrents buffeting the bill were evident. The intense lobbying since the bill emerged last week from three months of bipartisan negotiations is likely to be just a [...] Read More