Tag: Australia and immigration

Immigration And The Global Recession: Debate Heating Up In Australia And The UK

By Diego Graglia, FI2W web editor

Migrants in the French town of Calais, hoping to seek asylum in the UK - Photo: The Times

Migrants in the French town of Calais, hoping to seek asylum in the UK. (Photo: The Times)

With an historic recession casting its shadow on economic prospects around the world, the U.S. is not the only country where the immigration debate has become heated these days.

Australia –a traditionally immigrant-friendly country– announced this week it will reduce its intake of immigrant workers for the first time in a decade.

The argument that pits immigrants against rising unemployment is also winning support in the U.K., where an opposition spokesman called for following the Australian example in setting limits to immigration as a response to the crisis.

“We don’t want people coming in who are going to compete with Australians for limited jobs,” Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans said Monday, when he announced a 14% cut in the number of immigrants to be allowed in this fiscal year, according to Reuters.

(more…)