Current & Historic migration policies & Commonwealth: 2.2.3/2
Schengen Agreement:
Inter-governemntal agreement between some European countries about relaxing border controls between those nations
Signed 1985 -started 1995
Pros:
Allowed EU connection and integration from other non-members e.g Switzerland
Goods & services travel much easier - supports economic integration
Less spent on border security - more for citizens
Supply & demand - labour placed where needed most on the continent
Cons:
Terrorism - easier to travel to other countries to escape or commit other attacks - once your into 1 your into all
Other countries have similar:
African Union: all countries have e-passports allowing visa-free travel between countries
Commonwealth
Background:
54 countries
nearly 1/3 of world's population
once ruled under British empire
member charter outlines importance of rule of law & democracy
80 organisations linked e.g association of commonwealth universities
Pros:
Enhances prosperity/democracy and good governance
Increased trade - UK exports £3 trillion each yr to commonwealth nations
Sense of identity and community
Was more lenient with getting visas if from cw country
Cons:
Little legitimate influence of governance or decisions
Post-colonial club
No equality within group
Based on moral obligations, not contractual ones
UK legislation involving Commonwealth:
Post WW2 Commonwealth migration to UK:
Details:
To reconstruct Britain need for large influx of migrant labour
Immigration encouraged under British Nationality Act (1948) - free entry to commonwealth citizens
Pros:
Empire Windrush: from Jamaica - multiculturalism
Helped rebuild Britain
Cons:
4/5 people at time people thought too many immigrants were let in
Race Riots - August 1958 Notting Hill Riots
Policy was revoked due to uncontrolled nature of immigration
Commonwealth Immigration Act (1962):
Details
Pros
Cons
Revoked because heavy influx of immigrants
50s/60s migrants from India... work in textile factories N.Eng
Campaigns against racial discrimination (1965) - race relation acts
Filled gaps in employment sectors
Asian refugees expelled from E.Africa came to UK - hostility protests began, wanted to ban all non-white immigrants - influx to the uk
Commonwealth doctors/nurses couldn't find employment - qualifications not valid
Employment vouchers limiting number to settle
Commonwealth Immigration Act 1968:
Details
Pros
Cons
Policy revoked because
Barred future right of entry - had to have parent or grandparent born in Commonwealth
Gov scared some African nations had Africanisation policies e.g Kenya, Uganda to remove some Asian-Africans from their nations and most migration the UK
More control - 200,000 migrants had to make it clear they were from Commonwealth coutnries by filling out forms and having multiple forms of ID
Strict quotas - removed automatic right of entry to Britain
Changed to stop anyone from outside UK having easy access
Immigration Act 1971:
Details
Pros
Cons
Commonwealth lost automatic right to stay in UK - same restrictions as those outside
Right to abode - personal/ancestral links to Britain had right to entry and stay fro 5 yrs
Allowed migrants to bring famaily
Racism behind policy - encouraged more white commonwealth countries - 70% of immigrants under this policy were Canadian (people said they could assimilate into British culture easier)
Policy still upheld til 1 Jan 2021 - now points-based
UK tiered immigration system 2008 - 21
Tier 1:
High value (highly skilled, high-net worth)
Tier 2:
Skilled workers (jobs that can't be filled by UK workers e.g intra-company transfers)
Tier 3:
Scrapped
Tier 4:
Student
Tier 5:
Temp migrant (e.g seasonal work permit)
Canada - points based system - intro 1967
Human capital more desirable than specific job offer (want transferable skills)
Some areas receive greater weighting to disperse pop more - so less resource stress
Minimum 67 points
Points awarded on education, 24 point for proficiency in English and French
Australia - Points Based system
Minimum of 60 points
Assessed on age, competency in English, qualifications & experience, occupation
More points awarded if have qualification or experience in jobs that need filling
Policy makers = aware of role human capital plays in economic dev - points based sys more effective in attracting highly skilled migrants rather than demand-led policies