0 Have your say An end to free movement post-Brexit heralds the most significant change to immigration law in a generation and will present new challenges to businesses that have relied on EU workers. Few businesses are likely to be immune, given the prevalence of EU workers across all economic sectors. To help the UK government determine future immigration policy, it commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), an independent public body, to provide an evidence-based report on EU migration. The recommendations, published last month, relied on evidence from 250 organisations of varying sizes employing more than 114,000 workers across a range of sectors. While the UK government is not bound by the recommendations, it has broadly followed them in the past.The MAC’s headline recommendation was that if the UK government is not constrained by a future deal with the EU, it sees no compelling argument for a preferential system for EU citizens. Instead, it … [Read more...] about Jacqueline Moore: Employers must be ready to take stock
Resident labour market test
Election Q&A: How do you want to make it easier for foreign talent to come to Sweden?
There have been several reports in the past year of foreign work permit holders being deported due to minor administrative errors, often beyond their control, an issue The Local has covered extensively. We asked the Swedish parties: How do you want to make it easier for international talent to come to and stay in Sweden? Click here to read more questions and answers that matter to YOU. The Social Democrat Party "We're seeing a great need for a good supply of talent. People with special skills today have the opportunity to work in Sweden. We believe that labour immigrants should be entitled to compensation in certain cases when a work permit is revoked. Labour immigrants should not be unfairly impacted when the employer makes a mistake. We want order in the labour market." The Social Democrats are Sweden's biggest party and part of the centre-left coalition government. Photo: Tomas Oneborg/SvD/TT The Moderate Party "We need to take a holistic approach to labour immigration. First, … [Read more...] about Election Q&A: How do you want to make it easier for foreign talent to come to Sweden?
How Sweden hopes to get more foreign-born residents voting
This feature is part of The Local's Sweden in Focus series, taking an in-depth look at the issues that make this country tick. Click here to read more articles. "If you want to see change, you have to be a part of the process," says Ahmed Abdirahman, a policy expert at Stockholm's Chamber of Commerce and founder of NGO The Global Village. With his NGO, he also set up Järvaveckan, an annual political festival held in Stockholm's northern suburbs. "I don't want people to be sitting in [Stockholm neighbourhood] Tensta saying everything is terrible and politicians don't care about us," he explains. "There's no use cursing the darkness; we need to light a candle. Nothing can be done alone, so we all have responsibility: journalists, politicians, NGOs, citizens." His neighbourhood, Tensta in the north of Stockholm, is listed as one of Sweden's 61 'vulnerable' areas – districts characterized by low socioeconomic status and which also typically have a high proportion of … [Read more...] about How Sweden hopes to get more foreign-born residents voting
Malcolm Turnbull axes 457 visa program for skilled migration, saying he’s ‘putting Australians first’
Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has abolished the 457 visa for skilled workers. The replacement regime will include shorter term visas that make it harder to gain permanent residency, as well as a reduction in the number of skills eligible for the visa. The status of around 95,000 workers currently on the 457 visa will not change. Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull is scrapping the 457 visa that allows temporary foreign workers to be employed in Australia. The proposed replacement regime will include a short term two-year stream visa with a broad list of occupations. The second visa class will focus on higher skills and will have a four-year limit. It will require a higher standard of English than the two-year visa. Both will require prior work experience and a criminal record check, plus extensive testing of the local labour market for available skills. The announcement has been met with a cautious welcome from industry. Turnbull made the announcement on Facebook this afternoon, … [Read more...] about Malcolm Turnbull axes 457 visa program for skilled migration, saying he’s ‘putting Australians first’
Stalled US oil market recovery leaves many jobless in Texas
Updated 12:49 pm, Monday, May 7, 2018 Photo: Gary Fountain, AP Image 1of/1 CaptionClose Image 1 of 1 A May 1, 2018 photo shows a general view of the exhibition floor at a recent Offshore Technology Conference held at NRG Park, Houston, Texas. Skilled workers in Texas are still looking for jobs as U.S. employment in the oil and gas industry continues to lag behind rising oil prices. (Gary Fountain/Houston Chronicle via AP) less A May 1, 2018 photo shows a general view of the exhibition floor at a recent Offshore Technology Conference held at NRG Park, Houston, Texas. Skilled workers in Texas are still looking for jobs as U.S. ... more Photo: Gary Fountain, AP Stalled US oil market recovery leaves many jobless in Texas 1 / 1 Back to Gallery HOUSTON (AP) — Skilled workers in Texas are still looking for jobs as … [Read more...] about Stalled US oil market recovery leaves many jobless in Texas