Worker Registration Scheme extended for 2 years

Despite evidence that the Worker Registration Scheme leads to violations of human rights, putting vulnerable workers at more risk of exploitation and abuse, the UK Government has decided to extend the scheme for a further two years. In a press release issued today, Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas was “delighted to announce keeping in [...]

Worker Registration Scheme: ‘abuse of human rights’

More questions, more calls for it’s abolition, but no answers yet on the WRS The MP for Glasgow South West has submitted a written question as to the future of the WRS, on behalf of a Glasgow Polish residents association. We await a response from the Minister. Meanwhile, the Lords have been asking questions, amid [...]

End of the Worker Registration Scheme?

About 10 months ago I wrote a post on the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS), speculating on it’s planned demise come May 1st 2009. As May Day approaches, that old post has been getting more and more hits;  presumably people are searching the web trying to find out if the WRS really is about to end. [...]

Switzerland opens borders to Bulgarian and Romanian workers

From EUobserver: Swiss voters on Sunday (8 February) overwhelmingly approved the extension of the free movement of workers to Bulgarian and Romanian citizens. According to official figures, 59.6 percent of voters were in favour, despite a strongly anti-immigrant No campaign run by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), depicting foreigners as black crows picking at [...]

EU sanctions against employers of undocumented migrants

New European Union rules aim to crackdown on employers who expolit undocumented migrant workers, but migrant rights groups are worried that the imminent legislation retains the focus on the status of the migrant, rather than the exploitation by the employer. Under the Employers Sanctions Directive, employers hiring undeclared workers would face sanctions, including fines and [...]

EU states open up to Bulgarian, Romanian workers

The New Year has brought with it the lifting of restrictions for Bulgarian and Romanian workers in Greece, Spain and Denmark, but a number of EU states will be keeping barriers to their labour markets for three more years. Greece on Wednesday (31 December) became the latest “old” EU member to lift restrictions for Bulgarian [...]

EU states not applying free movement rules

EU member states’ implementation of rules on free movement and residence  has been “rather disappointing,” the European Commission said on Wednesday (10 December). Directive 2004/38 provides a single legal instrument on free movement of EU citizens and their family members. A new EC report reveals persistent violation of the core rights of EU citizens, mostly [...]

The picture is grim for Europe’s Roma

David Mark, co-ordinator of the European Roma Policy Coalition, writing in EUobserver With global markets shattered and far-right groups gaining strength across the continent, anti-Gypsism has risen dramatically this past year. Living often on the fringes of society, Roma have been the target of racist violence across Europe, with attacks this autumn in Italy, Czech [...]

Migrant Cities Conference – Glasgow, 26 Nov 08

The British Council is running a series of migration conferences in eight European cities Migrant Cities Conference Glasgow, Trades Hall 26 November 2008 Migration – Challenges and Opportunities The impact of migration is changing the nature of the cities throughout Europe. The Migrant Cities conference will consider and address the opportunities and challenges that this [...]

Criminalising migration in Europe

Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights for the Council of Europe, writes in New Europe of the current wave of xenophobia in Europe, criminalising irregular migrants – including those seeking political asylum – under the guise of managed migration policies.

The Commissioner recommends member states to accede to the 1990 International Convention on Migrant Workers, the most comprehensive, international treaty on migrant workers reaffirming and establishing basic human rights. To date it has been ratified by four and signed by two Council of Europe member states, even though many European countries actively participated in its drafting.