Immigration newsletter 5 July 2006

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The UK Construction Industry Training Board estimates that approximately 29,000 additional skilled plumbers will be needed by 2007. Trades are generally not listed in government Skills Shortage Occupations by definition, but skilled tradesmen are still needed. They must be experienced, and need good English skills and certification to perform all work to exact building codes.

4 of 5 of new UK graduates in nursing face unemployment as they approach graduation at the end of this summer. One year ago, 70% of new graduates could expect to find a position at graduation. Approximately 100,000 new UK educated nurses will enter or will have entered the workforce sometime during 2007. Over 150,000 nurses are due to retire in the next five to 10 years. Announced by the Home Office this week, general nurses are to be removed from the Skills Shortage Occupations listing. 

In the US a critical shortage of nurses continues, with 170,000 needed immediately and 700,000 by 2014.

The French Parliament approved new immigration legislation on 30 June, 2006, with many significant changes. A new three-year residence permit, called a "skills and talents permit", is created. Other provisions require that non-EU migrants sign an "integration contract" that commits them to 'respecting the French way of life.'

In Italy, less than half of illegal immigrants apprehended by police in 2005 were expelled, according to a new report. 25% of employees in companies investigated did not have legal work contracts. One in eight overall did not have legal residency. Approximately 2 1/2 times more permit applications are being submitted than the available quota for both 2005 and 2006.

1,000 "irregular" immigrants have officially been apprehended on and around Malta since January of this year. Nearly 300 were brought ashore on Wednesday, 28 June. 266 were on one boat alone, originating from Egypt and Morocco. 

Generally, most are from Libya and were attempting to reach Italy and the EU. Libya has been unable or unwilling to patrol for illegal immigrants, who are taking advantage of Libya as a debarking point from Africa in general.

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