Immigration newsletter 26 Jul 2006

The European Union has seen a steady increase in total employment from 2001 through the end of 2005. Just under three-quarters of all men and a little over half of all women in Europe are currently employed. As of January 2006, 18 of the EU-25 Member States had set national statutory minimum wages.

Italy announced it will lift all restrictions on the movement of workers from within the EU. Effective July 21st, a total of 18 EU states have a policy of free movement of labour. Italy set a quota of 350,000 non-EU citizens already in the country who are now eligible to legalise their residency or working status in Italy.

The French government announced that it will grant residency permits to roughly 6,000 illegal school-age children and their relatives. Eligible persons may be granted residency if their children can be proven not to have any links to their country of origin.

The Home Office announced numerous changes to immigration policy this week. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate will become a new agency as of 2008 with its own uniformed force. Embarkation controls will be re-introduced on Britain's borders.

Increased fees for the new "ePassport" will be effective from 05 October. It will include encoded biometric data on the holder, tied into the National ID card and the associated database.

The new Statement of Changes to the Immigration Act of 1971 became effective on 20 July. These changes apply toward deportation policy and clarify that there shall be a presumption in favour of the "public good". Persons legally residing and working in Britain should remain unaffected.

At 3.9%, Alberta, Canada has the lowest unemployment rate in over 20 years. Demand for unskilled labour means that Alberta will require many more workers than can be provided locally. Nearly a quarter million jobs went unfilled in 2005. Unions are lobbying the government for changes to visa legislation to allow categories of unskilled workers into the country.