Category: News

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged Wednesday to overhaul immigration rules to grant almost 3 million Hong Kong residents a pathway to British citizenship, a response to Beijing’s move to impose a far-reaching security law here that many fear will dismantle the city’s political freedoms.

Johnson’s vow comes as the United States, Canada, Australia and others face pressure from lawmakers and human rights groups to offer residency to Hong Kong people fleeing deteriorating political circumstances in the former British colony, which was promised a high degree of autonomy under the terms of its 1997 handover to China.

London’s move, which Johnson said he would implement when China formally enacts the security law, could emerge as among the most significant ramifications of Beijing’s effort to undercut Hong Kong’s freedoms and bring the city more closely under the Communist Party’s authoritarian rule. It would potentially grant British residency and working rights to up to 40 percent of Hong Kong’s population, raising the specter of a brain drain from the Asian financial center.

In op-eds published in the South China Morning Post and the Times of London, Johnson said the Chinese security law — which will criminalize broadly worded offenses such as sedition, subversion and foreign interference — gives Britain “no choice but to uphold our profound ties of history and friendship with the people of Hong Kong.”

Specifics of the new law are scant, but the approved proposal will allow Chinese security forces to operate in Hong Kong for the first time, enabling them to crush dissent as they do on the Chinese mainland. Hong Kong has been rocked in recent times by widespread protests calling for greater democracy and opposing Beijing’s tightening grip.

Johnson wrote that his government would allow holders of British National (Overseas), or BNO, passports to come to Britain for a renewable period of 12 months and gain the right to work. The move “could place them on a route to citizenship,” he said.

These passports, a holdover from British rule issued to people born before 1997, currently allow holders to stay in Britain for six months but do not afford work rights or residency. About 350,000 people in Hong Kong hold these documents, but an additional 2.5 million are eligible.

China’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that Britain has no jurisdiction over Hong Kong. Britain must “step back from the brink” and “stop interfering in Hong Kong’s affairs and China’s internal affairs,” spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters.

As the former colonial ruler, London was a signatory to the Sino-British Joint Declaration in which China agreed to preserve Hong Kong’s political freedoms and way of life until 2047.

Hong Kong’s government declined to comment Wednesday and referred The Washington Post to statements by China’s Foreign Ministry.

Lawmakers in other Western countries have issued similar calls to offer refuge to people fleeing the crackdown in Hong Kong, although the BNO passports give Britain a relatively easy route to welcome residents of the territory. This week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the U.S. response should “mirror those of other democracies who have opened their doors to Hong Kongers fleeing oppression.”

“Our nation has a rich heritage of standing as a beacon of light and freedom, from refugees of war to those escaping the Iron Curtain,” he said. “We should exercise it again for the people of Hong Kong.”

President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan has said her government is also working on measures to allow Hong Kongers to move to the self-governed democracy to live and work.

Hong Kong protesters have repeatedly demonstrated outside the British Consulate and have pressed the British government to allow BNO passport holders a pathway to full citizenship. Since China announced it was imposing the security law by fiat, bypassing Hong Kong’s legislature, dozens have flocked to renew those documents, local media reported.

Rana Mitter, director of the University of Oxford’s China Center, said Johnson’s move underscores the “very significant turn — not 180 degrees, but let’s say 90 degrees” — over recent months in the British government’s approach to China. He said that for Britain, “it’s becoming clearer that on certain issues, including maintenance of guarantees under the joint agreement on Hong Kong, it is not willing to be silent.”

By offering a path to citizenship for a significant number of people, the Johnson government can send a strong signal after Brexit that its departure from the European Union was “not purely about drawing up the immigration drawbridge,” Mitter said.

There has long been a strong sentiment in sections of Britain’s ruling Conservative Party that the country did not do enough for Hong Kong during the handover and that they want to do more now.

A YouGov poll conducted last week found that more Britons support than oppose giving BNO passport holders greater rights to live and work in Britain. About one-third were undecided.

Still, some in Hong Kong expressed skepticism about leaving, daunted by the prospect of navigating life in the United Kingdom.

“The unemployment rate in the U.K. is high,” said Ken Chong, a 30-year-old BNO passport holder who works at a bank in Hong Kong. “I’m not sure it will make a big difference for BNO holders, but as long as they are pressuring the Chinese government, then that’s a good move.”

Wayne Ma, a social media editor in Hong Kong, said he would not consider moving to Britain, because he could not afford to live there.

“I wouldn’t count on Britain to save Hong Kong,” he said. “I think it is unable to even fend for itself.”

Backlog of Investor Visa Applications in Limbo as Program Dies

Washingtonpost.com

COVID-19 has had some major effects on the world economy, most of which are negative. However, the virus outbreak impacted the Citizenship by Investment and Residency by Investment industry positively. According to Bluemina, a leading firm in the Citizenship and Residency by Investment industry, the Corona Virus crisis facilitated the process of obtaining a second citizenship or a permanent residency card since most programs are now accepting online applications and are requiring fewer official documents to lodge applications.

Most countries that offer Citizenship and Residency by Investment Programs launched online portals and websites allowing investors to electronically submit their required document through government-approved and authorized companies, such as Bluemina. This has immensely eased the process of application for businessmen and investors. Also, and in order to start the due diligence process, most countries are now requesting only five simple and readily-available documents including a Passport copy, birth certificate, national identity card, marriage or divorce certificate, and a proof of residency address such as electricity or water bills.

Several Commonwealth Caribbean Countries have updated their programs and investment requirement in order to meet the competitiveness of the market. For example, Saint Kitts and Nevis, the first and most established citizenship by investment program globally, have reduced the investment requirement in its Sustainable Growth Fund. Antigua and Barbuda, on the other hand, introduced a new investment path; The University of West Indies Fund. Under this investment option, one family member will be entitled to a one-year scholarship at the University of West Indies which is one of the most highly-ranked universities in the region.

As for Grenada, the state is offering the holder of its passport a 90% deduction on the tuition fees of St. George University; a private university known for its advanced degree in the field medicine and nursing. St. George University is also associated with many high-level educational institutions, including those in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia.

Lastly, Saint Lucia. The Government of Saint Lucia reduced the government-contribution amount from $160,000 to $140,000 for a single applicant, and from $190,000 to $150,000 for a family of 4. This amount is exclusive of due diligence fees, lawyers” retainer and some other minimal fees.

In this regard, Mr. Sharif, a resident in Qatar, expressed his appreciation for the services provided by Bluemina in general, and during the crisis of COVID-19 in specific, saying: ‘I’m pleasantly surprised by the professionalism of Bluemina and their efficiency in handling my application during those uncertain times. All my questions and concerns were addressed in a very knowledgeable manner, and I was reassured of the possibility of transferring the investment funds and the required documents remotely. Having received the government approval, I’m now expecting to receive my second passport and that of my family to our doorsteps in the coming couple of months.’

The founder and CEO and founder of Bluemina, Mr. Wasim Daoud, confirmed the continuity of work in all Bluemina’s seven offices across the MENA region; obtaining government approvals and delivering second passports to clients. In addition, Bluemina guarantees swift and smooth transfer of investment funds and documents to the designated government parties in a timely manner even during this global crisis.

Bluemina is one of the fastest-growing firms in the region, offering more than 15 different citizenship and residency by investment programs in both Caribbean and European Countries. Bluemina’s expert consultants have extensive experience in the field, making them capable of recommending the right program for an investor to meet their goals, needs and budget.

Bluemina guarantees the success of all its second passport, citizenship through investment and permanent residence applications, as the firm seeks to facilitate all procedures for its clients around the world.

 

Source: menafn.com
Published: 31 May 2020

A United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report has revealed that as many as 650,000 migrants are currently waiting in Libya, ready to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.

The report notes that the Chinese coronavirus pandemic could have a major impact on mass migration, but the outbreak has also made such movements increasingly difficult to predict.

“The global crisis caused by the pandemic is unprecedented and it is difficult to predict its impact on human trafficking and migrant smuggling,” the report stated, adding that the severe economic consequences of prolonged lockdowns could fuel a surge of migration from various countries, Il Giornale reports.

The UN report states: “This suggests that the travel and movement restrictions caused by Covid-19 are not stopping the movement of people fleeing conflict, violence and dangerous and inhuman conditions,” and added that Libyan migrants are forced to use the services of people smugglers.

“Information from Libya, where around 650,000 migrants and refugees are currently registered, suggests that the Covid-19 public health crisis has not discouraged people from trying to reach Europe.”

While the number of migrants entering the European Union has decreased overall during the coronavirus outbreak, Italy has seen a surge in new arrivals in recent weeks.

On the long-term impact of the pandemic on mass migration, the UNODC report predicted that “Future economic downturns are likely to have an impact in terms of movements of people to the richer countries.”

Migrants who have arrived in Italy during the coronavirus lockdown have been placed under quarantine aboard vessels off the coast. A report released earlier this month revealed that Italian taxpayers were paying as much as €4,000 per month per migrant in order to maintain the quarantine.

Alessandro Pagano, a member of populist leader Matteo Salvini’s League (Lega), slammed the costs, saying: “We are not talking about a third-hand dinghy, but of a ship equipped with a self-service restaurant, pizzeria, ice cream parlour,  pub with special wine assortment, play area and video room, double or quadruple cabins with services and even luxury suites.”

 

Source: breibart.com
Published: 31 May 2020

 

In a remarkable turn of events, Vanuatu’s new Deputy Prime Minister has served Jimmy Ng King Cheung – the country’s Trade Commissioner to Hong Kong and sole authorized agent for the parallel citizenship by investment program, the Vanuatu Contribution Program (VCP) -with a three-month termination notice.

The notice opens by referring some hitherto unpublished details of the agreements between Mr. Ng and the erstwhile government.

Vanuatu government has entered into a contract of services agreements with you as trade Commissioner to Hong Kong on the 17th of October 2011 to provide Permanent Residency on behalf of the Vanuatu government in the Asian countries.

The contract agreement is for a period of 10 years which will elapse on the 16th of October 2021. According to section 17 (a) of the contract of service, the commission is to produce a report on the services of PRG and to make available to the government on a monthly basis. The government of Vanuatu has not been receiving monthly reports as per the agreement of services.

For the last eight and a half years, in addition to providing new permanent residents for Vanuatu, Mr. Ng’s Hong Kong company – PRG Immimart Limited – has been the “Worldwide Exclusive Sole Master Marketing Agent” of the VCP as appointed by the “Worldwide Sole Exclusive Agent” (a local Vanuatu company named Vanuatu Glory Limited). The VCP has existed in parallel with the Vanuatu Development Support Program (VDSP), a conventional citizenship program with some 31 accredited local agents.

To learn more about that peculiar state of affairs, see Why Does Vanuatu Have Several CIPs? and Vanuatu Government Addresses the “Multiple Citizenship Program” Paradox. To learn more about how the government of Vanuatu came to grant a Greater-China monopoly for its citizenship by investment program to Mr. Ng, see Conspiracies and Foul Play – In Candid Letter, HK Lawyer Answers Long-Standing Questions on Vanuatu Citizenship.

Central to Mr. Ng’s privileged position as the sole agent for promoting both residency and citizenship of Vanuatu in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau was his position as Trade Commissioner to Hong Kong.

Download the complete termination notice PDF here 

The implication of today’s notice, although it makes no explicit mention of the VCP, is that Mr. Ng’s cushy relationship with the former government of Vanuatu will not be allowed to continue under the new administration. Indeed, the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission’s new Chairman was expressly tasked with reviewing and reforming the citizenship by investment programs when he was appointed on April 30th.

“Clear Conflict of Interest”
The notice goes on to draw into question the rationale behind the various extensions to the contract Mr. Ng had obtained from the previous administration.

The expiry date of the original contract is the 16th of October 2021 which will be reviewed upon the agreement of the government and the commission.

But instead, without valid substantial reasons the third and the fourth supplementary agreement amendments provide for the extension of the contract.

a) The third supplementary agreement amendment section (4) provide for automatic renewal of the contract after 10 years, which was signed in 2014.

b) The Fourth supplementary agreement amendment section (2) provide for the renewal of the contract to 2031, which was signed in 2019.

[…]

It clearly shows conflict of interest on your side as you clearly knew that there would be a change of government when the contract elapsed. You have used your influence as the sole authorized agent [ed: an indirect reference to the VCP] to engage in the automatic renewal of the contract on the supplementary agreements.

It has also come to my attention that the Trade Commission is funding the immigration officer who is responsible for the PR program in Hong Kong under the agreement through the office rentals and other office utilities including the traveling costs. This is deemed to be a clear conflict of interest as per section 4 of the contract of services.

Therefore, consequent to section 5 of the contract, you are given 3 months’ notice to provide your response to the above. Once I receive your written response to the above I will decide to continue with the contract or terminate the contract immediately.

Reacting to the news, James Harris of the Vanuatu Investment Migration Bureau, a man who predicted this outcome weeks ago, indicates that Mr. Ng’s termination as Trade Commissioner will bring a final resolution to the dual-CIP state of affairs.

“The rationale of Vanuatu operating two parallel CIP programs with one reserved for a single exclusive distributor has always been an enigma and a cause of disquiet across the industry,” says Harris. “There has been a lingering suspicion that a separate channel meant separate, preferential processing and less probity. It has caused reputational challenges.”

For the first three years of its co-existence with the VDSP, the VCP – beyond having exclusive purview of the Chinese market (the chief source of new Vanuatu citizens) – also had preferential pricing.

“In 2019, there were attempts to level the playing field by an apparent harmonization of the two programs – although the two programs have since continued to operate side by side,” Harris explains.

“The emergence of this letter indicates a serious intent by the new government to finally eliminate any perception of an unfair advantage to any single distribution channel. From here, with just the DSP remaining, the Government will hopefully continue in a process of reforming this with the goal to create a durable, world-class program that will serve the country’s vital economic interests.”

The change in government and the arrival of a new chairman at the Citizenship Commission appear to be producing sweeping change for Vanuatu’s CIP activities. Just yesterday, the Commission reported it had raised a record VT7 billion since the start of the year, VT3 billion of which in the last three weeks alone. The new chairman, Ronald Warsal, also hinted the country might soon introduce real estate investment options (currently, only donations qualify) as part of a “Citizenship by Tourism Investment Program”.

 

Source: imidaily.com
Published: 29 May 2020

A Citizenship by Investment Board member has said while the nation is striving to ensure the continued momentum of the local programme, officials are monitoring “threats on the horizon” from international bodies

Ambassador Colin Murdoch disclosed that the European Union (EU) is among those considering action.

“We are looking closely at actions that are taken and actions being contemplated by the EU and also by the OECD – Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development – so we are monitoring those things,” he said.

Citizenship by Investment programmes have raised the ire of several international agencies and resulted in several countries with such schemes being black/grey listed by the EU, meaning that they are seen as possible tax havens, or facilitate terrorism financing or money laundering.

In June 2017, Canada imposed visa restrictions on Antigua and Barbuda citing that the country’s travel document “no longer meets Canada’s criteria for visa exemption”.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has subsequently said his government would consider lifting visa requirements for citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, subject to “significant improvements” to the country’s CIP scheme.

While Murdoch did not give details of these looming threats, he explained that officials continue to inform international organisations and concerned countries about security standards employed by the CIP and improve levels of training as they seek to address the issues that arise.

“So, these are issues that we have been addressing and which we will continue to have to address. And I think the enforcement of professional standards is one of the most important things that we can do to give assurance and comfort to those who are paying attention,” the ambassador explained.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive of the Investment Migration Council (IMC), Bruno L’ecuyer, is underscoring the need for government officials to understand international standards within the industry.

Among the areas of concern are the understanding of generic KYC (Know Your Customer), due diligence and its various forms, how to identify politically exposed individuals, the nature of anti-money laundering regulations and terrorism financing.

“Antigua is demonstrably a good country that is doing things in the OECD standard,” he added.

L’ecuyer said concerns in the EU about the CIP industry are politically driven and often revolve around the issues of money laundering and terrorism financing.

“Now, the members of the IMC don’t identify at all with the way some of these politicians in Brussels are labelling the industry, because for the most part, 99.9 per cent of these clients are entrepreneurs and normal people that have worked hard in their lives, and they simply want to have better travel opportunities. They want a better quality of life,” he said.

Meanwhile, group public relations director at Henley & Partners Paddy Blewer said that there has been an increased demand for products such as the Antigua and Barbuda CIP due to increased demand for travel options.

“What we are seeing is an increase in the demand for investment migration products across the board but certainly for the Antigua and Barbuda programme because it gives the investors optionality,” he said.

Blewer said the advent of Covid-19 is driving investors to realise that they need multiple options.

 

Source: antiguaobserver.com
Published: 27 May 2020

A 321-page legal decree published in the Italian government gazette this week (colloquially known as the Decreto Rilancio, or “revival decree”) contained a wide variety of measures relating to layoffs, aid to self-employed workers, and support for business, all aimed at reviving the Italian economy following COVID-19. Of particular interest to investment migration professionals was the contents of Article 38, sibsection 10:

Article 26-bis, paragraph 1, letter b), of the legislative decree 25 July 1998, n. 286, the words “of at least 1,000,000 euros in instruments representing the capital of a company incorporated and operating in Italy maintained for at least two years or at least € 500,000 “, are replaced by the following: “Of at least € 500,000 in instruments representing the capital of a company incorporated and operating in Italy maintained for at least two years or at least € 250,000 “.

A sweeter deal
Briefly explained, the changes now coming into effect reduce the minimum investment requirements of two of Italy’s most attractive residence by investment options by 50%. Applicants may henceforth qualify by investing EUR 500,000 in an Italian limited company (previously EUR 1 million) or EUR 250,000 in an Italian “innovative startup” (down from EUR 500,000).

The remaining two routes – a EUR 2 million investment in government bonds and a EUR 1 million philanthropic initiative – appear unaltered.

The policy change will go a long way toward enhancing what industry observers have long considered an uncompetitive golden visa program. Since its establishment in December 2016, the Italian IV has failed to achieve the popularity enjoyed by its Mediterranean cousins, the golden visas of Portugal, Spain, and Greece, which all offer entry at lower capital investment requirements.

While a halving of investment requirements will certainly improve the program’s prospects, the scheme’s most significant obstacle is that only one of its four routes – that of government bonds, which requires virtually the same capital outlay as the direct route to EU citizenship in Cyprus, which would enable investors to reside in Italy in any case – is considered “low-risk”. Italy offers no real estate investment option.

The new minimum of 250,000 places Italy’s investment low end of the cost-spectrum among European golden visas but also calls for a much higher level of risk tolerance than its peers as only those applicants willing to make a bet on an Italian startup can qualify at this price point.

Italy is not the first RCBI-destination to have found ways of making its program more affordable to applicants following the pandemic outbreak – Saint Lucia and Antigua & Barbuda, for example, preceded it – and is unlikely to be the last.

Source: imidaily.com
Published: 23 May 2020

Quebec is extending the temporary suspension of the immigrant investor program.

The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) will now be closed to applications until April 1, 2021, according to the Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration (MIFI). Quebec had previously closed the program until July 1, 2020.

The program allows people with a net worth of more than $2 million to get permanent residence by investing at least $1.2 million with a financial intermediary that has been approved by the Quebec government.

The QIIP is polarizing, critics say it is easy to take advantage of the program, while supporters say it helps Quebec to acquire more wealth.

Though the program requires candidates to have an intention to reside in Quebec, most take up residence in B.C. or Ontario. Another common criticism is that the program allows people to “buy permanent residence.”

The QIIP is Quebec’s version of the Federal Immigrant Investor Program (FIIP), which was cancelled in 2014. Quebec is more interested in revising its program as it states in the recent ministerial decree (French only).

In support of the FIIP, the Investment Industry Association of Canada wrote a letter in early May, calling on the federal government to revive Canada’s investor program. They said it could help the Canadian economy recover from the devastating effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The IIAC represents the intermediaries who facilitate the arrival to Canada of immigrant investors.

The government of Quebec profits from the investor program by taking a $1.2 million interest-free loan from immigrant investors. The government puts the money in interest-earning invests, such as bonds, and holds it in cash to ensure the money can be repaid to the investor after the five-year term. A small portion goes toward loans for small Quebec businesses.

Quebec will need to consider lending rates set by the Bank of Canada when it revisits what it wishes to do with the QIIP. Interest rates have plunged after coronavirus prevention measures were implemented in March. The low-interest rates raise the question of whether or not it will be worth it for Quebec to maintain the QIIP in an effort to stimulate the province’s economy.

Investor immigration falls under business immigration, a category for high net worth individuals who have the potential to create jobs and contribute to economic prosperity in Canada. Business immigration also includes entrepreneur immigration.

The main difference between investor and entrepreneur immigration programs is that entrepreneur programs require immigrants to actively manage a business in exchange for permanent residence, whereas investor programs offer permanent residence in exchange for an interest-free loan.

For immigrants who wish who start a business, there are other options such as Quebec’s business immigration program. Canada also has the federal Start-up Visa Program and the entrepreneur streams offered by the provinces and territories under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Ontario, for example, invited 26 entrepreneurs under its PNP last month.

 

Source: cicnews.com
Published: 25 May 2020

In a webinar produced by the Global Forum on Migration and Development, our Chairman Austin T. Fragomen, Jr., discussed several COVID-19-related migration challenges, particularly those related to governance frameworks and support networks upon which many migrants rely.

See the full webinar here. 

 

Source: fragomen.com
Published: 7 May 2020

 

Source: weforum.org
Published: 22 May 2020

The immigration bill repeals EU freedom of movement and introduces the new framework – though not exact details – for who can come to live in the UK.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the government’s plans will lead to a “high skill” economy.

But critics said the coronavirus pandemic has changed public attitudes towards those considered “unskilled”.

The House of Commons approved the general principles of the law by 351 votes to 252 on Monday. It will now go on to receive further scrutiny.

The legislation will put EU and European Economic Area (EEA) citizens on an equal footing to immigrants from outside the bloc.

It also paves the way for the government to introduce a new points-based system, which some say will affect the ability of care workers to come to the UK.

• Eight ways new immigration laws will affect industry
• What’s a skilled worker? And other immigration questions
• No visas for low-skilled workers, government says

The government announced proposals for the new system, suggesting points will be awarded for being able to speak English to a certain standard, having a job offer from an approved employer, and meeting a salary threshold of £25,600.

Other points could be awarded for certain qualifications and if there is a shortage in a particular occupation.

Speaking in the Commons, shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said the earnings of frontline workers do not reflect their contribution to society.

“Those who clapped [for carers] on Thursday are only too happy to vote through a bill that will send a powerful message to those same people – that they are not considered by this government to be skilled workers,” he said.

“Are shop workers unskilled? Are refuse collectors? Are local government workers? Are NHS staff? Are care workers? Of course they are not,” he said.

The Scottish government’s immigration minster, Ben Macpherson, has also written to Ms Patel, asking her to “pause and reconsider” the plans, saying the coronavirus outbreak has highlighted the need for immigration in frontline services.

Introducing the bill in the Commons, the home secretary said: “The current crisis has shone a light on how we value those who provide compassionate care across health and social care.”

Ms Patel said the changes in the bill “will play a vital role in our recovery plans for the future”.

“It will end free movement and pave the way for a firmer, fairer and simpler system and will attract people we need to drive our country through the recovery stage of coronavirus, laying the foundation of a high wage, high skill productive economy,” she said.

The legislation, the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill was first introduced in December 2018, but stalled amid a series of defeats for then PM Theresa May’s minority government.

The bill is now being reintroduced to the Commons with Boris Johnson’s 80-seat majority, meaning it is likely to pass.

The plan for a new points-based system will need to be separately approved by Parliament, and it is not clear how soon the formal changes to the current rules will come before MPs.

Karolina Gerlich arrived in UK from Poland 12 years ago and has been working in the social care sector ever since.

She now works as the executive director of the Care Workers Charity, but says the points-based system the government plans to bring in would have ruled her out from coming to the country “and supporting as many people as I have”.

Ms Gerlich tells the BBC she is “angry” about the proposals, saying: “I think it’s terribly heart-breaking that there is this level of misunderstanding about the importance of what care workers do, and the contribution that social care makes, both to the economy and to society in general.”

She says the sector is “quite heavily dependent” on foreign workers, and limiting who can come to the UK based on their wages could be “disastrous”, especially after the coronavirus outbreak.

“We’ve had over 130 care workers die because they were working on the front line,” says Ms Gerlich. “And it is going to be more difficult for the sector to recruit after the crisis. With so many people dying, why would anybody dream of going into work in care now?”

In February, Ms Patel said people applying to come to the UK under the proposed system will need to meet strict skills criteria.

“We will no longer have the routes for cheap, low-skilled labour that obviously has dominated immigration and our labour market for far too long in this country,” she said.

A YouGov opinion poll commissioned by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) suggests 54% of people now support looser immigration controls for workers regarded as essential during the pandemic.

The government list of critical workers during the crisis includes care staff, food processing staff, supermarket workers, and delivery drivers.

JCWI’s Satbir Singh said such workers “are not ‘unskilled’ or unwelcome, they are the backbone of our country and they deserve the security of knowing that this place can be their home too”.

Different approach

Former immigration minister and Tory MP Caroline Nokes called for “a more nuanced and intelligent discussion about immigration in this country”.

She told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We need to understand [immigration legislation] needs to be done with compassion and understanding…and we need to move away from the really blunt ‘skilled’ and ‘unskilled’ terms.

“To be quite frank, they are meaningless and actually really rude to those people who we have been so reliant on, not just in the last eight weeks, but for a very, very long time in this country. ”

SNP immigration spokesman Stuart C McDonald criticised the bill, claiming it would “split even more families apart”.

“It’s a bill that will result in many thousands of EU nationals losing their rights in this country overnight and which will extend the reach of the hostile environment still further,” he said.

A visa allowing doctors, nurses and health professionals from overseas to work in the NHS was introduced in March.

The Brexit transition period ends on 31 December – after which the new immigration rules will apply. Irish citizens’ immigration rights will remain.

 

Source: bbc.com
Published: 18 May 2020