Newsletter archive

The US Senate will try again within weeks to break the deadlock on immigration reform, the leader of Senate business says. Bill Frist was speaking after huge demonstrations on May 1 illustrated immigrants' demands for more liberal policies.

The French parliament is set to discuss the approval of a new immigration bill which would make it harder for foreigners to work in France.

The European Commission has declared 2006 to be the European Year for Workers' Mobility. The EU's stated position is that the freedom of movement between EU countries is a workers fundamental right.

Currently a seven-year transitional period is in progress. During this time free movement of individuals from eight of the new EU nations may have greater restrictions than the mobility enjoyed by workers from original EU-15 countries. The transition was planned in three phases, the second of which began on the first of May this year. 

Announced 09 May as a Budget Media Release, the Working Holiday Makers (WHM) program will offer new temporary work and study opportunities. 

Western economies such as Australia, large parts of Europe, Canada and New Zealand are finding that they are attempting to draw from a similar labour pool. In general, competition for highly skilled workers in a variety of industries and professions is increasing. 

U.S. immigration reform continues to be one of the biggest immigration stories at this time. 

Sparked by Mexican border issue and statistics revealing an estimated 13 million illegal residents in the US, the topic quickly became an election-year issue. While rhetoric and debate is strong right now, there will be far-reaching changes in US immigration law as a result. 

The intense fight in the US Congress will eventually yield a compromise bill that will be sent to the White House shortly.