The “Blue Card”

As everybody knows, there are several countries like USA and Canada where you need some kind of documentation for a legal stay and work such as national Green Card programs. Some of these programs were introduced also in single countries of the European Union.

In the recent past there have been many thoughts about starting a program as USA has, the Green Card, also for the whole European Union. In January 2005 the originator of the idea, the EU commissioner for justice Franco Fratini, called the idea a “Blue Card” after the color in the European flag. This program called by the formal name of “Attractive conditions for the admission and residence of highly qualified immigrants” Memo/07/423, is a scheme to attract highly skilled workers and talented immigrants to the European Union.

The reason why some politicians came out with an idea like this is because Europe is suffering from aging of its population and also wants the EU economy to be more competitive and knowledge-driven. So far the Blue Card is just a proposal, and not a working program.

If u would like to know more about this scheme click here and also you can read some news about this topic here.

BLUE CARD VS GREEN CARD

Blue Card - Does not give permanent residency - Valid up to two years, renewable - Allows holders and families to live, work and travel in EU - Applicant must have one-year EU job contract with salary of three times minimum wage - Permanent residency automatic after five years

Green Card - Gives holder permanent residency - Valid for 10 years, renewable - Allows holder to live, work and travel in the US - Five channels to seek a card: employment, family links, a lottery, investment, or resident since before 1972 - Holders can become US citizens after five years

 

Labor Force Leaving Eastern Europe

I know that we already have some posts about migration in Europe, but I have found another interesting article about the labour force from Eastern Europe leaving the home countries and going to work abroad…Everybody is talking about how the economic situation and living conditions are improving and also new jobs are being created, salaries are rising but in spite of this there are still many people looking for better opporunities in western Europe. In the wake of the departures of the workers are huge labor shortages. For example Slovakia has created an excellent environment for car manufacturing and capacity has increased, but now automobile companies such as Volkswagen and Kia Motors have been unable to find enough skilled workers to assemble the vehicles. Poland and the Baltic states have been unable to meet housing demands due to too few workers. Things are so bad in Poland that President Lech Kaczynski has complained of being unable to find someone to paint his house because all the painters have moved away. After the entry to EU there are not so many restrictions for immigrants from central and eastern Europe to join the labour market in UK or Scandinavian countries. Now the governments are trying to do some measures to fill the gaps, but are stil reluctant to increase wages because it may degrade their attractiveness to foreign investments. Here is the article.