Vitorino bid to ‘simplify’ rules on rights for foreign workers

Series Title
Series Details Vol.7, No.28, 12.7.01, p2
Publication Date 12/07/2001
Content Type

Date: 16/07/01

JUSTICE Commissioner António Vitorino has unveiled proposed laws to govern the way member states accept immigrant workers.

The draft directive, published yesterday (11 July), sets out a blueprint determining the basic procedures applied by member states when they let in workers from non-Union countries.

The measures would require Union governments to replace separate working visas and residence cards with a single paper; they would guarantee immigrants equal treatment with their EU counterparts once they are granted working rights; and they lay down rules for member states wishing to operate an American-style 'green card' scheme for skilled workers in a specific jobs sector.

Vitorino says the measures will still offer member states flexibility in how they operate their individual systems. "We are not intending to decide by directive the number of immigrants that each of our economies and societies is prepared to absorb," he said. "The proposed directive leaves that decision with the member states."

The plans are likely to be fought by Germany and Austria which are anxious to retain control over their migration policies.

Justice Commissioner António Vitorino has unveiled proposed laws to govern the way Member States accept immigrant workers.

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