Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Migration Watch
re: Government point based system: “A potentially valuable reform is the introduction of “sponsorship” whereby the employer (or educational institution) will be responsible for ensuring the departure of a work permit holder or student when their visas expire. The introduction of electronic checks on arriving and departing foreigners, when implemented, will further strengthen the system.”41 criticisms (1) Wage increases rather than immigrants more effective means to do with skills shortage.42 (2) no limit on numbers43 (3) reduces incentive to train British workers and subjects British graduates to competition from foreign graduates.44 (4) is a route to settlement.45 (5) possibility for abuse46 (6) difficulty of control, and to effect removal, and the sheer scope of the project may lead to collapse.47 elsewhere also claims that it will encourage migration through publicity and for employers bringing in workers for a short period and then claiming they are intra-company transfers.48
Balanced Migration proposals would not affect (1) EU nationals (2) genuine asylum seekers (3) foreign students who do not change their visa status whilst in the country (4) genuine marriages49 would retain points system but without the possibility of settlement and only granting permits for four years; after this a further system capped and controlled by a quota.50
claims a sustainable population growth would emerge in England reaching 56 million in 2056.51 reduction of strain on household growth52
note assumption that EU migration, including Eastern Europe will fall.53 arguments (1) no evidence most intend to settle permanently54 (2) economic growth in these countries as they integrate in the EU55 (3) decline in unemployment in these countries.56 (4) demographic changes with population reduction57 (5) other countries for them to go to in EU as transition period ends58 (6) exchange rate changes.59
40Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 33.
41Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 34.
42Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 34.
43Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 35.
44Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 35.
45Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 35.
46Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 36.
47Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 36.
48Migrationwatch UK, “Assessment of the Points Based System” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Employment/3_3_PointsBasedSystem.pdf [Accesses October 7 2008] 2.
49Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 37.
50Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 38.
51Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 40.
52Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 42.
53Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 46.
54Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 48.
55Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 48.
56Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 49.
57Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 49.
58Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 49.
59Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 49.
Monday, 22 September 2008
Castles and Miller
"new forms of global migration and growing ethnic diversity are related to fundamental transformations in economic, social and political structures in this post-modern and post-Cold War epoch."1 (2)
"Developments included the upheavels in the former Soviet bloc, the Gulf War; the Intfada in occupied Palestine; the crumbling of apartheid in South Africa; wars, famines and crises throughout Africa; rapid growth and development in Asia; a shift from dictatorships to unstable and debt-plagued democracies in Latin America; and growing economic and political integration in Western Europe."2 (2-3)
underdeveloped countries migration linked to the "social crisis which accompanies integration into the world market and modernisation."3 (3)
point out that many international migrants are those who previously were rural-urban migrants.4 (3)
reasons for migration
(1) Growing inequalities between North and South
(2) political, ecological and demographic pressures
(3) creation of new free trade areas5
(4)
o
"Venezuela, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Argentina are major poles of immigration. Many countries are simultaneously countries of emigration and immigration."6 (7-8)
o
tendencies:
Globalization of migration; accelaration of migration; differentiation of migration; feminisation of migration7
(8)
o
"it was only in the late 1980s that international migration began to be accorded high-level and systematic attention...as the European Community countries removed their internal boundaries, they became increasingly concerned about strengthening external boundaries..."8 (9)
1 S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 2.
2 S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 2–3.
3 S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 3.
4 S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 4.
5S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 4.
6S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 7–8.
7S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 8.
8S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 9.