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 place [...]

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 evidence that [...]

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. Is [...]

Crusade against the undocumented

Every day, across the UK, aggressive raids are being carried out at workplaces to root out those without papers.
Britain’s ethnic restaurant sector is under attack from government officials who, in their single-minded drive to meet ever higher targets for deportation, have no interest in the impact of their policies on small family businesses or the [...]

Active citizenship: “socio-political engineering”

In the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Bill, the Government wants migrants to commit to ‘active citizenship opportunities’, but that amounts to coopting the voluntary sector for a piece of socio-political engineering, says Stephen Cook, in an editorial for 3rd Sector magazine.
There is a fundamental objection: Volunteering should, as far as possible, be its own reward, [...]

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.

Return of the Free Movement blog

Great news: the Free Movement blog is back, with inside knowledge, news, gossip and commentary on the wonderful world of UK migration controls, from a barrister specialising in immigration law.

Female migrant workers and the minimum wage

Report from the TUC of new research from COMPAS:
New TUC research published today (Monday 11 Aug 08) reveals that female migrant workers may be more likely than any other group to be paid less than the national minimum wage (NMW).
Reports of the abuse of migrant workers have become increasingly common and the research – commissioned [...]

Sham Government ruled illegal on weddings

The Government has been found to be acting illegally again, as the House of Lords rules the marriage laws targeting couples where one or both is not British to be an arbritary and unjust breach of human rights.
Shortly before being forced to resign for obtaining a dodgy visa for his extra-marital lover’s nanny, twice-disgraced [...]

Draft Immigration and Citizenship Bill launched

The UK government has unveiled it’s draft Immigration and Citizenship Bill. The “tough new approach” will apparently represent a “sweeping overhaul of all immigration laws dating back to 1971″ (all but two of which have been passed by this government).
The UK Border Agency press release starts with some figures from a Mori poll carried out [...]