Blog
1975 – 2022: An interview with Queer Strike
Sameena Munir
January 2018
In these global immigration updates, we provide brief details on key changes to immigration rules in global jurisdictions.
Please note that all immigration rules are subject to change and whilst correct at the time of publication, they should not be relied upon as legal advice or a statement of accuracy at a later date.
Effective 1 July 2018, employers hiring foreign workers in Switzerland will need to undertake a labour market test when hiring for certain occupations where the rate of unemployment is over 8 per cent. Employers will need to advertise vacancies with the Employment Service in Switzerland for at least 5 days. The threshold will be lowered to 5 per cent on 1 January 2020.
Employers in Switzerland should allow additional time for the advertising period, review of applications and interview process to be complete when hiring foreign national to come and work in Switzerland after 1 July 2018.
The EU Posted Workers Enforcement Directive has been implemented in Malta. The Directive makes changes to the existing directive in the country in relation to foreign workers assigned to work temporarily in Malta.
The changes are as follows:
i. Employment contract;
ii. Payslips;
iii. Confirmation of employee’s working hours;
iv. Work permit; and
v. Proof of wage payments.
All documents must be translated into English if originals are in another language.
Nationals of 70 countries must comply with a biometric border control system when entering Ukraine via international ports of entry. The new procedure requires visitors to submit fingerprints and is only available to holders of biometric passports. The requirement is mandatory for nationals of the 70 countries deemed a migration risk by Ukrainian authorities but may be applied to nationals of additional countries. It is anticipated that the new process will lead to delays for visitors upon arrival in Ukraine.
Further to the announcement of regulation (EU) 2017/2226 on 30 November 2017, the European Union has introduced an Entry/Exit System (EES) to register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data of third-country nationals crossing the external borders of the Schengen Area. The regulation applies to Non-EU nationals, both visa required and visa exempt, travelling for short stays of 90 days within a 180 day period in the Schengen area.
The EES will replace the current system of manual stamping of passports and will electronically register identity data, the date and place of entry and exit as well as entry refusals of third-country nationals.
The purpose of the EES is to improve the quality of border checks through the automatic calculation of those who overstay the permitted duration. This data will be available to law enforcement authorities and will assist them to identify terrorism and protect public interests.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs (DHA) have published guidelines to clarify details on the new Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa which is due to replace the Subclass 457 visa in March 2018.
The TSS visa will be categorised into three separate streams:
Transition Phase
The DHA have also provided clarification on the transition phase from the current 457 process to the new TSS route:
Employers in Singapore must now provide the contact details of all foreign workers to the Ministry of Manpower's EP Online for Employment Pass, S Pass, Training EP, Dependant's Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass applications.
Pass holders who have provided their contact details will then have access to key updates relating to their immigration status or for any emergency situations. They will need to provide their email address and a Singapore mobile telephone number and update the online system if these details change during their stay in Singapore.
Foreign nationals coming to the UAE for work purposes will soon be required to obtain police clearance certificates from any home country(ies) where they have legally resided over the last five years. The certificate must comply with several requirements, which include notarisation by a Public Notary, legalisation by the relevant government body in the country of origin and super-legalisation at the UAE Embassy/Consulate in the country of origin prior to being attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE. It is foreseeable that the new process will add to the time frame and cost of obtaining a work permit. The requirement will be mandatory from 4 February.
We welcome views and opinions about the issues raised in this blog. Should you require specific advice in relation to personal circumstances, please use the form on the contact page.
Sameena Munir
Georgia Roberts
Eurydice Cote
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