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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.

Latest immigration news

UK Passport Fee Rise

The BBC reports that the fee for a new adult 10-year passport is to increase by 29% from October, from ?51 to ?66. The Home Office said the new passport - dubbed the ePassport - would be the "most secure ever produced by the UK". more »

Italy opens labour market to new EU members

Italy has lifted the barriers to workers from eastern European member states bringing the total number of EU states with free movement of labour to 18. more »

France to grant residency to 6,000 illegal immigrants

France will grant residency permits to roughly 6,000 illegal immigrants but expel more than twice as many under controversial new immigration rules, its interior minister said in an interview published on Monday. more »

Update on UK visa offices, Cyprus, Lebanon and around the globe

Persons should be aware that due to the situation in Lebanon and Israel, the visa section of the British High Commission in Nicosia, Cyprus is closed, effective 20 July 2006. Applications for visas may be made at any British mission overseas with a visa section. No announcement predicting when normal service will be resumed has been made. more »

Ageing Australian population fears immigration less

Australians have developed a more favorable attitude towards migration since the Howard Government came to power in 1996, with anxiety about an ageing population driving the shift in sentiment. more »

UK Home Office specifies plans to crack down on illegal immigration

The move will prompt renewed claims that John Reid is adopting a hard-line approach to law and order and immigration issues. Home Office sources have confirmed that Reid plans to double the amount spent on immigration control to ?180m in order to cut the number of unfounded asylum claims and illegal immigrants. more »

Alberta, Canada experiencing economic boom, needs unskilled workers

The Canadian province of Alberta is experiencing some of the strongest economic growth in all of Canada. Canada in general is one of the prime western nations for immigrants seeking relocation and work permits, and the government attributes the strong, steady economic outlook of Canada to the diversity of its migrant population. more »

UK Home Secretary John Reid reforms to affect Immigration and Nationality Directorate

The aim of the Government's reform plan is to make the Home Office more efficient. It is hoped that the following changes will result in savings of as much as £115m per year by 2010: more »

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