Tag: migration

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Pope calls anti-migrant attitudes at US border ‘madness’

Dhaka: Pope Francis addresses priests and nuns at the Holy Rosary Church in Dhaka on Dec 2, 2017. (Photo: bdnews24/IANS)

Record numbers of migrants have been seeking to enter the United States, largely from Central America and Venezuela, as they flee poverty, violence and disasters exacerbated by climate change….reports Asian Lite News

Pope Francis made a foray into the US election season with a rare television interview Sunday, calling harsh anti-migrant attitudes “madness” and criticizing right-wing US Catholic figures for overly conservative stances against his social teachings.

Speaking in his native Spanish through a translator for more than an hour, Francis told CBS News program “60 Minutes” that the closing by the state of Texas of a Catholic charity offering humanitarian assistance was absurd.

“That is madness. Sheer madness. To close the border and leave them there, that is madness. The migrant has to be received,” the pope said.

“Thereafter you see how you are going to deal with him. Maybe you have to send him back, I don’t know, but each case ought to be considered humanely,” Francis said.

Record numbers of migrants have been seeking to enter the United States, largely from Central America and Venezuela, as they flee poverty, violence and disasters exacerbated by climate change.

The matter has emerged as a top political issue in the November US election, with President Joe Biden’s Republican challenger, former president Donald Trump, pushing the topic front and center.

“The globalization of indifference” on migrants, Francis said, “is a very ugly disease.”

Francis, 87, also addressed criticisms by conservative US bishops who oppose his efforts to revisit certain teachings and traditions.

A “conservative is one who clings to something and does not want to see beyond that,” he said when asked about the bishops, adding “it is a suicidal attitude.”

A U.S. Border Patrol agent stands in front of the border fence that divides the U.S. and Mexico in San Diego, California, the United States, Nov. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhao Hanrong/IANS)

Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has insisted on the importance of a church open to all, including member of the LGBT community, but he has faced strong resistance from conservative Catholics.

There was a particularly strong reaction when Francis opened the door to the blessing of gay couples last year, especially in African countries.

Calling gay people “a human fact,” Francis said in the interview: “To bless each person, why not? The blessing is for all.”

The pontiff also touched on the controversial topic of sex abuse within the Catholic Church.

He has made combatting sexual assault in the Church one of the main missions of his papacy, and insisted on a “zero tolerance” policy following multiple wide-reaching scandals.

“Unfortunately, the tragedy of the abuses is enormous,” he told CBS, adding that abuse “cannot be tolerated. When there is a case of a religious man or woman who abuses, the full force of the law falls upon them,” Francis said. But, he added, “there has been a great deal of progress.”

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EU parliament adopts stricter migration rules

In a series of 10 votes, European lawmakers endorsed the regulations and policies that make up the Pact on Migration and Asylum…reports Asian Lite News

The European Parliament on Wednesday approved a landmark overhaul of the European Union’s asylum and migration rules. The parliament’s main political groups overcame opposition from far-right and far-left parties to pass the new migration and asylum pact, a sweeping reform nearly a decade in the making.

In a series of 10 votes, European lawmakers endorsed the regulations and policies that make up the Pact on Migration and Asylum.

The reforms address the questions of who should take responsibility for migrants and asylum seekers when they arrive and whether other EU countries should be obliged to help.

“History made”, posted parliament president Roberta Metsola from X handle on Wednesday following the passage of the migration and asylum pact.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the new rules a “historic, indispensable step” for the EU.

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said the bloc “will be able to better protect our external borders, the vulnerable and refugees, swiftly return those not eligible to stay” and introduce “mandatory solidarity” between member states.

However, outside the Brussels Parliament building, dozens of demonstrators protested against the vote, echoing criticism from more than 160 migrant charities and non-governmental organisations.

In a sign of the fierce opposition, the start of voting was interrupted by protesters in the public gallery yelling, “This pact kills – vote no!” until the chamber was brought to order. The legislation requires all EU member states to take some form of responsibility for managing asylum applications.

If an EU country does not want to accept people applying for asylum, then that member state must give alternative assistance, like financial contributions to a support fund.

Also, EU member states experiencing significant spikes in applications for asylum may call for the applicants to be distributed to other EU countries.

The most controversial part of the package involves establishing border facilities in the EU to host asylum seekers and screen and quickly send back applicants found not to be ineligible. Swedish parliamentarian Malin Bjork said the pact does not respond to “any of the questions it was set to solve”.

She said the reform package “undermines the individual right to seek asylum” in Europe because it would build on plans that some EU countries already have to process migrants abroad. Italy has concluded one such deal with Albania. Bjork’s Left group voted against the pact.

Far-right lawmakers complained the overhaul did not go far enough to block access to irregular migrants.

The mainstream centrist right and left in parliament had called for the pact to be passed as an improvement over the current situation.

They warned that failure to pass the reforms would boost the far-right, predicted to become a bigger force in the European Parliament following June elections.

Sophie In ‘T Veld, a key figure pushing the package through, acknowledged “problematic elements, risks and weaknesses”, but said that overall it marked a step forward.

The pact’s measures are to come into force in 2026, after the European Commission sets out in coming months how it would be implemented.

The new border centres would hold irregular migrants while their asylum requests are vetted, and speed up deportations of those deemed inadmissable.

It would also require EU countries to take in thousands of asylum-seekers from “frontline” states such as Italy and Greece. Alternatively, they could provide money or other resources to the under-pressure nations.

The German chancellor, commenting on X, the former Twitter, said the accord stands for “solidarity among European states” and would “finally relieve the burden on those countries that are particularly hard hit”.

A controversial measure is the sending of asylum-seekers to countries outside the EU that are deemed “safe”, if the migrant has sufficient ties to that country.

The pact has wended through years of thorny talks and compromises ever since the bloc was confronted with large numbers of irregular migrants who arrived in 2015, many from war-torn Syria.

Under current EU rules, the arrival country bears responsibility for hosting and vetting asylum-seekers, and returning those deemed inadmissable. That has put southern states under pressure and fuelled far-right sentiment.

Soon after the vote passed, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that his government would “protect” Poland from the migrant relocation mechanism.

“We will find ways so that even if the migration pact comes into force in roughly unchanged form, we will protect Poland against the relocation mechanism,” Tusk told reporters.

“I have certain possibilities to build alliances and the mechanism of relocation or paying for not taking in [migrants] … will certainly not apply to Poland,” said Tusk, a former European Council chief.

Although Tusk’s governing alliance is largely pro-EU, it maintains criticism of the EU’s migration reform. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wrote on X formerly Twitter, that the pact was a “nail in the coffin” for the EU. “Secure borders are no more, Hungary will never give in to the mass migration frenzy,” Orban wrote.

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Cleverly underlines commitment to cut net migration

From 4 April, the increase to the minimum salary required for those arriving on the Skilled Worker visa, from £26,200 to £38,700, will come into force…reports Asian Lite News

Measures to transform the UK’s legal migration system, bolster border security and drive down unsustainable and unfair levels of migration will come into force within weeks, the Home Secretary has announced today.

It comes after the Prime Minister and Home Secretary set out a major new package of reforms in December, delivering the biggest ever reduction in net migration and tackling exploitation across the immigration system.

The robust changes, which will curb abuse of the migration system, and ensure those choosing to make the UK their home can afford to do so, will begin to come into effect as early as March and will mean 300,000 people who came to the UK last year would now not be able to come.

The measures will crack down on rising migration, help curb the abuse of the Health and Care visa route, where we have seen people come to the UK for care worker jobs that do not exist or are paid significantly less than the required salary for a migrant worker on this route, and ensure British labour is not undercut by overseas workers.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said, “I’ve been clear that migration is too high and we must get back to sustainable levels. Last year I set out robust measures to reduce the numbers coming into our country – tightening the rules on care workers, skilled workers, and making sure that people can support their family members that they bring over. It is a firm approach, but a fair one, and gives those affected time to prepare whilst ensuring that migration comes down. The British people want to see action, not words. We are delivering the change we promised and which they expect, lifting pressure on public services and protecting British workers with the utmost urgency.”

Tom Pursglove MP, Minister for Legal Migration and the Border, said, “Our comprehensive plan to tackle net migration will not only bring numbers down substantially, but also tackles the inherent unfairness of a system which, if left untouched, would reward employers seeking to recruit cheap labour from overseas at the expense of the British worker. Delivering change on this scale and at such a pace is hard and challenging work, but we’re making strong headway, with further improvements to modernise and enhance the security of the UK border continuing throughout 2024.”

From 4 April, the increase to the minimum salary required for those arriving on the Skilled Worker visa, from £26,200 to £38,700, will come into force. This 48% rise will drive down numbers, reduce pressure on public services and prevent the undercutting of British workers by employers who look to recruit cheap labour from overseas. Workers on a Health and Care visa and on health and education national pay scales will be exempt from this specific threshold.

Meanwhile, the laying of the new Immigration Rules on 14 March will include the removal of the 20% going rate discount for occupations on the Shortage Occupation List, which will be abolished in favour of a new Immigration Salary List from early April. This follows a recommendation from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), which will now advise government on which occupations should be temporarily added to the new list initially, in time for March. 

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India govt gives nod to migration, mobility pact with Italy  

Tourists visit the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, on June 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting/IANS)

Cooperation between the two parties in the fight against irregular migration has also been formalised through the Agreement...reports Asian Lite News

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval to the proposal of the Ministry of External Affairs to sign and ratify the Migration and Mobility Agreement between India and Italy, the Cabinet informed in a release on Wednesday.

The agreement would enhance people-to-people contacts, foster mobility of students, skilled workers, business people and young professionals and strengthen cooperation on issues related to irregular migration between the two sides. The agreement locks in the current Italian visa regime including mechanisms for post-study opportunities, internships, and professional training assuring an advantage for India under the existing labour mobility pathways under the Flows Decree. According to the release, after this agreement, the Indian students wishing to gather initial professional experience, after completing academic or vocational training in Italy may be granted temporary residence in Italy for up to 12 months.

The Italian side has detailed provisions related to professional training, extracurricular internships and curricular internships which allow Indian students and trainees to gain experience in Italian skills and training standards. For workers, the Italian side has reserved a quota of 5000, 6000 and 7000 non-seasonal Indian workers for 2023, 2024 and 2025 under the current Flows Decree (Total reserved quota stands at 12000 for non-seasonal workers). Additionally, the Italian side has also reserved a quota of 3000, 4000 and 5000 seasonal Indian workers for 2023, 2024 and 2025 under the current Flows Decree (Total reserved quota stands at 8000 for seasonal workers), the release added. Under the Flows Decree, the Italian side has also offered incremental reserved quotas for both seasonal and non-seasonal workers from 2023-2025. Additionally, the Agreement also formalises joint working on furthering mobility pathways between India and Italy through agreements on Youth Mobility and Facilitation of Recruitment of Indian qualified professionals in the healthcare and medical services sectors which will be discussed under the Joint Working Group (JWG).

Cooperation between the two parties in the fight against irregular migration has also been formalised through the Agreement. “This agreement will come into effect on the first day of the second month following the date of receipt of the last of the two notifications by which parties shall have communicated to each other the completion of their internal procedures necessary for its entry into force and will remain into force for a period of 5 years. Unless terminated by any participant, the agreement will be automatically renewed for a similar successive period,” the release stated. The agreement provides a formal mechanism for its monitoring through a JWG which would meet periodically, in virtual or physical mode as convenient, and oversee its implementation. The JWG would share relevant information, evaluate the implementation of the agreement and discuss all appropriate proposals to support implementation as necessary. Notably, the agreement was signed on November 2 this year, by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the Indian side and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani on the Italian side, the cabinet release added. (ANI)

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Migration threatens to ‘overwhelm’ Europe, says Sunak

Sunak then hinted at the need to change international law on immigration, telling the crowd at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Atreju political festival: “If we do not tackle this problem, the numbers will only grow…reports Asian Lite News

Rishi Sunak has said illegal migration threatens to “overwhelm” Europe and hinted a change is needed in international law in order to tackle it.

Speaking to Italian conservatives at an event in Rome, the prime minister said “enemies” could use immigration as a “weapon” by “deliberately driving people to our shores to try to destabilise our society”.

“Criminal gangs will find ever cheaper ways to ply their evil trade,” he added. “They will exploit our humanity. They think nothing of putting people’s lives at risk when they put them in these boats at sea.”

Sunak then hinted at the need to change international law on immigration, telling the crowd at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Atreju political festival: “If we do not tackle this problem, the numbers will only grow.

“It will overwhelm our countries and our capacity to help those who actually need our help the most. If that requires us to update our laws and lead an international conversation to amend the post-war frameworks around asylum, then we must do that. Because if we don’t fix this problem now, the boats will keep coming and more lives will be lost at sea.”

Back in Britain, Sunak has been fighting to pass his flagship Rwanda bill, which was ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court last month. Tuesday saw the prime minister survive a possible rebellion as a new draft of the bill – which declares in law that Rwanda is a safe country – was passed by MPs at its second reading by 313 votes to 270, a majority of 43.

The revised bill will allow ministers to disapply the UK’s Human Rights Act, but does not extend the same powers to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which hardline Tory MPs demanded.

While in Rome, Sunak was embraced by Meloni – who has taken a hard-line stance on migration and who’s populist Brothers of Italy party hosted the event. The two leaders had held bilateral talks where they “agreed on the vital importance of tackling the scourge of illegal migration and the shared sense of urgency that they feel on this issue”, according to a Downing Street spokesperson.

Meloni and Sunak also met with Albania’s prime minister Edi Rama, who’s country has a deportation scheme with Italy.

It comes as some 292 people made a journey across the English Channel in seven boats on Friday, according to Home Office figures published on Saturday.

It was also confirmed a migrant died during an incident on Friday, while another was left in a critical condition. Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said it was “not too late” for the prime minister to change direction on his migration policy.

“Once again we have the Prime Minister ramping up the rhetoric but failing to get a grip,” he added.

“After a week in which the Prime Minister has failed to convince many of his own backbenchers that he has a workable plan to end dangerous boat crossings, we hit a new grim milestone – far from stopping the boats, on Rishi Sunak’s watch this year, 600 boats have crossed.

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Labour not to set target on migration

The Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto also promised to bring overall numbers down, without setting a specific target, after the introduction of post-Brexit border controls…reports Asian Lite News

Labour has said it will not set an “arbitrary target” on cutting net migration. It comes after a shadow minister told the party hoped figures would reach a “normal level” of “a couple of hundred thousand a year” if it wins the next election.

Darren Jones said the numbers would depend on the needs of the economy. A Labour spokesperson said it expected its proposals would lead to a fall in net migration.

“Labour’s position hasn’t changed. As we have set out we will scrap the 20% wage discount, review the skilled worker salary threshold and reform the Migration Advisory Committee to link it to the bodies setting out industrial and skills strategy,” the spokesperson said after Mr Jones’ BBC interview earlier.

“As a result of these measures we expect net migration will go down, but we won’t set an arbitrary target unlike the Tories – who have never come close to meeting it.”

The Conservatives are under pressure to cut migration after new figures showed it reached record levels last year. Net migration – the difference between the number of people coming to live in the UK and those leaving – was 745,000 last year, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics, published earlier this week.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has described the figure as “shockingly high”, while Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also said immigration levels are too high and need to come down “to sustainable levels”.

Labour has said it would increase the salary requirements for foreign workers to come to the UK, based on recommendations from the independent Migration Advisory Committee. Currently the annual salary threshold for a skilled worker visa is set at £26,200 but roles on the shortage occupation list can be offered at £20,960. Labour has said it would scrap this 20% discount if it wins power.

Back in 2010, Lord David Cameron, the former Tory prime minister who was appointed foreign secretary in the recent reshuffle, pledged to get net migration below 100,000 – but the commitment has never been met.

The Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto also promised to bring overall numbers down, without setting a specific target, after the introduction of post-Brexit border controls.

The vast majority of those arriving in the UK in the year ending June 2023 were from outside the European Union.

Students accounted for the largest group of non-EU migrants, followed by those coming for work. The ONS said this could largely be attributed to people on health and care visas, with the sector facing chronic staff shortages.

However, it said provisional figures suggested the rate of net migration could now be slowing, with the estimated number falling back to 672,000 in the year to June.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott said this was “positive news” but that the government was taking further steps to cut migration.

For example, earlier this year it announced new restrictions on students bringing family members with them to the UK, which come into effect from January.

Trott told the government’s long-term plan for the NHS workforce would also mean more people would be trained for jobs in health and social care. Tory MPs on the right of the party, including former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, have been calling for tougher measures to cut migration.

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Migration advisers call for tighter foreign worker rules

Its overall economic benefit was also doubtful and many employers were unable to afford the high fees for using the system, the MAC said…reports Asian Lite News

The committee’s recommendations, if adopted, will frustrate business groups that have lobbied for the SOL to be extended to areas such as hospitality, where many employers have struggled to hire since Brexit.

The government’s migration advisers have called for the abolition of one of the main routes through which employers can hire overseas workers in sectors facing chronic staff shortages.

The Migration Advisory Committee, tasked with reviewing the “shortage occupation list” (SOL) for which visa conditions are loosened, said on Tuesday that the current system was liable to drive down wages and leave workers open to exploitation.

Its overall economic benefit was also doubtful and many employers were unable to afford the high fees for using the system, the MAC said.

“We are not convinced that the SOL is an effective tool to address labour shortages across different occupations and sectors,” said Brian Bell, a professor of economics at King’s Business School and MAC chair.

The committee’s recommendations, if adopted, will frustrate business groups that have lobbied for the SOL to be extended to areas such as hospitality, where many employers have struggled to hire since Brexit.

At the same time, some Conservative MPs — including immigration minister Robert Jenrick — have called for a rethink of the post-Brexit visa system, and in particular the decision to add care workers to the shortage occupation list in early 2022.

Inclusion on the SOL allows employers to hire outside the UK for 80 per cent of Britain’s “going rate” for the occupation, down to a minimum of £20,960 a year — compared with a threshold of £26,200 under the main “skilled worker” visa route. For care workers, the usual skills criteria have also been waived.

Since this change, overseas hiring by the care sector has rocketed, fuelling record net migration. In the year to June, care and senior care workers together accounted for half of all visas granted to skilled workers.

But there have also been widespread reports of abuse by employers who underpaid care workers or charged them inflated “relocation costs” if they sought to change jobs because of poor working and living conditions.

The committee said its review was based on the principle that employers should no longer be allowed to pay wages below the UK going rate.

This meant there would be no point keeping higher paid occupations such as architects or IT technicians on the shortage list, as employers willing to match UK pay rates could already use the main skilled worker route. Nurses and other NHS workers were in any case on a national pay scale.

The shortage occupation list would, therefore, be useful only to employers in low wage sectors, where workers faced a “particularly significant” risk of exploitation, the MAC said.

Constructing a system where migrants were reliant on their visa sponsor to remain in the country increased this risk, it said, adding: “We must not shy away from this — it is an inevitable consequence of such a decision.”

The MAC said care workers should remain on the shortage list for now, despite exploitation concerns, because employers had no real alternative to overseas hiring if government funding was too tight for them to pay competitive wages.

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India News Punjab

Reverse Migration of Sikhs Back to Punjab

Students who were stranded amid the Russia-Ukraine war, arrive at IGI Airport in New Delhi. (Photo Anupam Gautam_IANS)

This incident served as yet another stark reminder of the precarious situations many Sikhs and Punjabis find themselves in while seeking better opportunities abroad…reports Manjari Singh

In the past few years, a notable shift in migratory trends has been observed among the Sikh and Punjabi diaspora, particularly from countries like Canada, the UK, and the US. These communities, which once sought better lives and opportunities abroad, are now making the journey back home to Punjab, their Pind, a region that holds their roots. This reverse migration is a narrative that needs to be told, a testament to the changing global climate and the evolving dynamics of our own nation.

For decades, people from Punjab have been emigrating to countries like Canada and the UK, drawn by the allure of prosperity, higher living standards, and the promise of a ‘better life’. However, the dream often clashes with reality. The increase in hate crimes, persecution, and ill-treatment by locals in these countries has been a source of concern and has indeed, become a significant factor driving this reverse migration.

In recent years, there has been a disturbing rise in hate crimes against Sikhs and Punjabis in the Western world. These communities, despite their significant contributions to society, have often found themselves at the receiving end of xenophobia and racism. The turban, a symbol of faith and dignity for Sikhs, has become a target for racial slurs and physical attacks. The cultural diversity that was once celebrated is now being threatened by ignorance and intolerance.

Unfortunately, these hate crimes are not isolated incidents but a part of a larger, more concerning trend. According to the Sikh Coalition, the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the US, Sikhs are hundreds of times more likely to experience hate crimes than the average American. This, coupled with the lack of proactive measures by the respective governments to address these issues, has led to a sense of disillusionment and insecurity.

The plight of Sikhs and Punjabis abroad is further illustrated by a recent incident involving students in Canada. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) issued deportation letters to around 700 Indian students, the majority hailing from Punjab after their admission letters to Canadian universities were found to be fraudulent. This action, however, was swiftly put on hold following protests and intervention by the Indian government.

This incident served as yet another stark reminder of the precarious situations many Sikhs and Punjabis find themselves in while seeking better opportunities abroad. The threat of deportation, combined with a lack of support and understanding, has heightened the sense of vulnerability and insecurity among these communities. Such incidents have undoubtedly contributed to the growing trend of reverse migration, as Sikhs and Punjabis look towards their homeland for stability and respect.

Another notable factor fueling this reverse migration is the increasing difficulty in securing stable employment and equal opportunities in the host countries. Despite their skill sets and qualifications, people from these communities often face discriminatory practices in the job market.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucxlfG4REAc&t=1s

But the story of reverse migration doesn’t end with the grim realities abroad. The tide of returning Sikhs and Punjabis also speaks volumes about the rapid development and progress happening back home in India. In recent years India at large has witnessed unprecedented economic growth. There’s a palpable buzz of entrepreneurship, technological advancements, and infrastructural development that is enticing these communities to return.

The return of these communities to their homeland is not just a migration story, but a narrative of resilience and the search for dignity, respect, and opportunity. It is a powerful reminder that progress and prosperity must be inclusive and that any form of discrimination has far-reaching consequences.

While the rising tide of hate crimes is a challenge that needs urgent attention, the silver lining in this story is India’s emergence as a global powerhouse, offering a beacon of hope for its returning sons and daughters. The reverse migration of Sikhs and Punjabis is a testament to the winds of change, blowing towards a future filled with promise and opportunity right here at home.

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New Zealand sees strong migration numbers

new zealand's flag

The government’s immigration re-balance has lifted pay requirements for migrant workers to ensure they are treated fairly, and requires advertising for New Zealand workers before a migrant worker is sought, he said…reports Asian Lite News

New Zealand witnessed a net migration gain of 72,300 in the year ending in April, marking six months of continued growth, the statistics department said on Tuesday.

There was a net gain of 98,400 non-New Zealand citizens in the cited period, Xinhua news agency quoted Stats NZ as saying.

The continued growth in net migration shows the government’s immigration rebalance is working as it tackles labour shortages, Immigration Minister Michael Wood said.

“We know many industries have been calling out for workers as the global labour shortage bites, and we want our immigration settings to be responsive to that, while still helping to deliver a more productive, high wage economy,” Wood said.

The government’s immigration rebalance has lifted pay requirements for migrant workers to ensure they are treated fairly, and requires advertising for New Zealand workers before a migrant worker is sought, he said.

“Ultimately we want to train as many New Zealanders to fill labour shortages as possible, but in the short term it has been necessary to rely more on migrant workers than we otherwise would to plug workforce gaps,” said the Minister.

This is a positive sign that New Zealand is getting the workers that its economy needs to thrive and grow, Wood said.

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UK, EU agree to collaborate over cross-Channel migration

Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen endorsed the idea of London working with Frontex at a meeting on the sidelines of the Council of Europe summit…reports Asian Lite News

The EU and the UK have agreed to collaborate on curbing irregular migration across the English Channel in a further sign of warming relations after years of post-Brexit tension.

Brussels and London will negotiate a deal to exchange intelligence, expertise and personnel to combat smugglers after six months of deadlock over the plan.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, endorsed the idea of London working with Frontex, the EU border agency, at a meeting on the sidelines of the Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik.

“We need to do more to co-operate across borders and across jurisdictions to end illegal migration and stop the boats,” Sunak said.

Sunak has come under growing pressure from cabinet ministers and senior Tory MPs to tackle migrant crossings on the English Channel after bruising local election results when the party lost 1,000 council seats.

Sunak and French president Emmanuel Macron agreed to strengthen bilateral collaboration on the Channel in a bid to reduce migration. However, Tuesday’s announcement marks a significant step-up in Europe-wide efforts to tackle the problem and an acceptance by London that the UK cannot deal with it alone.

The commission had blocked a Frontex deal while those [Windsor framework] talks were going on. Improved relations open up the door to mutually beneficial partnerships like this

Four EU North Sea states had been pushing with the UK to have an agreement since last December but the commission had blocked it because of the post-Brexit dispute over trading arrangements with Northern Ireland.

That was settled by the Windsor framework signed in March and both sides have been seeking to improve relations since.

“The Windsor framework opened up the way,” said one EU diplomat. “The commission had blocked a Frontex deal while those talks were going on. Improved relations open up the door to mutually beneficial partnerships like this.”

After years of tensions under former prime minister Boris Johnson’s administration, Sunak has sought to strengthen diplomatic ties with Brussels on issues such as the war in Ukraine and migration. Speaking on Tuesday, the prime minister stressed that the UK remained a “proud European nation” willing to work with its neighbours to defend shared values.

Frontex has partnerships with 18 other countries, each one slightly different. The basic framework the UK wants would rule out deploying Frontex officers. However, staff could be exchanged and liaison officers posted to each other’s countries. They could also exchange information on migrant routes and smuggling gangs as well as share alerts about forged documents.

A commission spokesman said: “The strengthened co-operation will . . . enable Frontex and UK agencies to work together on critical operational measures. By pooling their resources, expertise and best practices, the EU and UK will be better equipped to address strategic challenges.”

Tensions remain, however, and the spokesman added that “actions undertaken within a Frontex working arrangement must be in full respect for the EU and UK’s international human rights obligations, including the European Court of Human Rights”.

EU migration commissioner Ylva Johansson has raised concerns about a UK immigration bill by which asylum seekers would be deported to a “safe” third country such as Rwanda for their application to be processed there, or to their country of origin. “I question whether this is in line with international obligations,” she said at a meeting in March.

The legislation, which is working its way through parliament, has also been criticised by the UN refugee agency and the Council of Europe itself, which said the bill would put the country in breach of the UN convention on refugees and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Last month, the House of Commons passed amendments that would allow the home secretary to override judges at the ECHR in Strasbourg should they seek to block deportations to Rwanda, as they did last year.

In 2022, more than 45,000 migrants were reported to have crossed the English Channel from mainland Europe to the UK, breaking the record of the previous year with more than 17,000, as per the government figures published on Sunday. In total, 45,756 citizens crossed the dangerous and one of the busiest shipping lanes in a small boat, in comparison to 28,526 in 2021.

2022 also broke the record for the highest crossing by migrants in a single day, as 1,295 migrants made it to the UK on August 22.

For the Conservative government, this is a huge political issue in the wake of promises made by them on decreasing illegal immigration and getting hold of smuggling gangs that make these crossings possible.

Recently the Rwanda asylum plan of the government, which is aimed at solving the issue of migrants crossing the English Channel, was ruled legal by the High Court.

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