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At least 15,000 nurses and other medical professionals are leaving the Philippines each year for better-paying jobs abroad, threatening the country's health infrastructure, World Health Organization (WHO) officials warned. WHO officials called it a serious situation for the Philippines.
The number is more than any other country, with the United States, Britain and lately Australia the main destinations.
A major campaign by the New Zealand government using a website to entice expats to return home is experiencing falling visitor numbers. The site - www.newzealandnow.info - made headlines in December for publishing a list comparing English and New Zealand prices on items such as condoms, protein smoothies and Big Macs. The site was launched last year as part of a $3 million Department of Labour campaign to combat the brain drain.
The Australian opposition leader Kim Beazley opposed the Australian Government saying that it has increased the levels of skilled migration at the expense of training Australians and therefore had created a domestic skills shortage.
The opposition Labour leader said more training of young Australians needs to be addressed, not increasing skilled labour to the country.
"The federal government had brought in an additional 270,000 skilled migrants, while 300,000 people had been turned away from TAFE institutions since 1998," said Beazley.
During the debated topic of free movement of workers in the European Parliament, Gary Titley Member of the European Parliament urged Europe to follow in Britain's footsteps and allow the migratory movement of foreign workers.
"European labour markets should be open like the UK's. We were right to take the bold step of opening up our labour market, and Europe should not fear tides of immigration," said Titley.
New Zealand is looking to introduce tough new measures that will make it harder to enter the country and easier to deport people.
The Immigration Minister David Cunliffe unveiled the sweeping proposals April 5, and hopes that New Zealand will attract more skilled workers from overseas and keep out so called "undesirables."
Cunliffe says the changes will simplify and streamline the entry of migrants wanted in New Zealand, and enhance border security.
The Netherlands has introduced Europe's most stringent immigration requirements for would-be immigrants. Applicants for a resident visa must now pass a Dutch language test administered at the Dutch Embassy in their country of origin costing $417.
Along with the language exam, applicants will be tested on their compatibility with Dutch liberalism. This is done by way of a civil-examination, including a 108 minute film which includes homosexuals kissing and nudity in beach scene.