Topical:
Germany’s Constitutional Court on 23 December 2002 declared void a German Parliament Upper House vote of early 2002, stopping the implementation of the new German immigration law. Germany’s new Immigration Act had been due to come into force on 1 January 2003. The new law would have allowed the entry of thousands more high-skilled workers that are desperately needed by the German economy to fill skill shortage areas.
The British Government has announced that from early next year two new managed migration schemes will be introduced to allow employers in the food manufacturing industry and the hospitality industry to recruit short-term low skilled workers to help ease recruitment difficulties.
The details of the schemes are still being finalised. We expect final details to be announced in March or April 2003.
The Home Office has announced the result of their review of the policy regarding Employment Agencies sponsoring work permits. The Home Office has decided to retain the prohibition.
This was due to the following reasons:
Work Permits UK is expected to make a formal announcement on the outcome of the 'Agency Review' during the week commencing Monday 28th October 2002. We will of course keep you posted of any further developments.
Following the recent German elections, which was won by the governing SPD-Greens coalition of Chancellor Schröder, it now seems certain that the new German immigration act will come into force on 1 January 2003 as planned. We include some brief details of the new act below:
From 7 October 2002, the points required for a passmark in the General Skills Category will be 30. The change is being made in order to manage the 2002-2003 New Zealand Immigration Programme.