Immigration newsletter 26 Nov 2008

The EU Blue Card has been in the spotlight this week.

The idea for an EU-wide policy on skilled immigration was first introduced in 1999 but was put on ice in the aftermath of the Twin Towers terrorist attacks in 2001. It was not until October, 2007 that Franco Frattini, then-EU Commissioner, put an official proposal before the European Parliament and the concept of the Blue Card was born.

Inspired by the United States Green Card, the EU Blue Card would allow skilled migrants from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland to live and work in any EU member state that adopts the relevant legislation.

A report, presented to the EU Parliament on 04 November 2008, set out to clarify some of the details of the proposed scheme and gained the crucial support of the Employment Committee. According to some critics, the report suggested that certain concessions be made and consequently any Blue Card scheme now adopted would be a ‘watered down’ version of its US counterpart.
On 20 November, the report was the subject of a consultative vote by the EU Parliament and was approved by a clear majority of 388 to 56, thanks to a pact between the Parliament's 2 dominant parties. However, with 124 abstentions it is clear that significant divisions persist. 

It is expected that the Blue Card proposal will be voted upon in the European Council in early 2009. 

In 2007 there was a significant annual decrease in the number of people immigrating into the United Kingdom. According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics, last year saw some 577,000 new arrivals, a reduction of 8.9 percent over the previous year’s total.

Home Office figures indicate a total of 210,800 worker registrations in 2007 or 7.4 percent less than in 2006. Significantly, Eastern European Immigration into the UK has dropped by 36% year on year to an annual 38,000. With numbers declining so dramatically, there may now be more opportunities for non-EU migrants to live and work in Britain.

Janet Napolitano, the governor of Arizona, is expected to be named US secretary of Homeland Security by the Obama administration. 
Napolitano has long complained about federal immigration law and last year implemented the country’s most severe penalty for employers, whereby their business licenses are revoked for a second offence of knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.

But although Napolitano has gained a reputation as a tough enforcer, she has shown sensitivity to other immigration issues and has opposed most measures that would seek to punish illegal immigrants who were already living and working in Arizona.

Whilst Napolitano has stopped short of giving her support to the border fence currently under construction, she has been an advocate of various measures aimed at controlling immigration, saying that ‘Our current immigration system is broken. It is too easy for the 'bad guys' to enter our country and too difficult for the 'good guys’, whose energies and intellects we need.’

She has called for a streamlined visa process, ‘tamper-proof immigration documents’ and an improved national employer verification system.

Australia will overhaul its citizenship test after a government-appointed committee found that the existing test needed improvement.

According to Immigration Minister Chris Evans, the focus of the new test will be the ‘Pledge of Commitment’ that new Australians will be required to make. ‘The pledge is about our democratic beliefs, our laws and the rights, responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship.’ 

The pass mark for the citizenship test will rise from 60 percent to 70 percent.

South Australia, the fourth largest of Australia’s six states and two territories, is actively seeking workers from the Philippines to help counter its perennial skills shortage. Labour Secretary Marianito Roque said preparations were underway for Philippine and South Australian cooperation on the recruitment of Filipino workers.

Meanwhile, the British Ambassador to the Philippines, Peter Beckingham, said Filipinos would be much welcome to work in the United Kingdom, where the high standard of their work continued to make a ‘valuable contribution’ to the UK economy.

Canada too is keen to take workers from the Philippines, with Jason Kenney, the countries immigration minister, singling out nurses in a recent interview in Kiev.

A senior fellow at the Canada West Foundation in Calgary feels that Canada's points based immigration system is failing in one of its fundamental objectives by not necessarily selecting immigrants who would make the greatest contribution to the nation.

According to Robert Vineberg, the points system and the pass mark have been adjusted over the years with too much emphasis now being placed on formal education and training. More importance should be attached to skilled workers who have learned a trade and should be able to immigrate to Canada.