France will adapt 20 measures to take back control of immigration. The new plan may well bring tougher rules for asylum seekers. The government also plans to bring an immigration system such as the Australian and Canadian model through controlled (quota based) economic immigration. Streamline work visa and PR system will help non-EU candidates to apply for the profession through a quota-based shortage occupation list.
The plan for immigration was presented by Edouard Philippe, the prime minister, to members of the La Republique en Merche (LREM-French parliament) on Wednesday, November 6.
“The prime minister revealed the immigration plans during a press conference and said, France wants to take back control on immigration”.
“He also emphasized on a plan to double the number of foreign students in France to 500,000 by 2027”.
To get back the support of voters, the French president Emmanuel Macron has finally taken a tough line related to the country’s immigration system. The president once said that France cannot host everyone if it wants to host them in the right way.
1- Immigration rules (work visas, PR, startups, and business visas)
- Quota based immigration system
Many changes have been identified in the new immigration plan for economic immigration where it has been decided to implement Australia and Canada based immigration system which means France hiring based on its needs.
On the other hand, the French industries feel the necessity for foreign workers. The government also wants to accept foreign workers but just for concrete places and sectors in the industries where the workers need is the most critical. The Prime Minister also signaled a quota system for such sectors such as economic immigration. The minister of labor, Muriel Penicaud gave an explanation on Tuesday for the BFMTV that the ceratin idea is about owning quantified quotas and targets. It has not yet decided on the exact quota system for the shortage occupation list.
It is being said after the government clarified it that new caps on economic migration, which accounted for only 33,000 of the 255,956 residence permits awarded in 2018, “will not be restrictive”.
- Progressive changes in the shortage occupation list
The list with eligible industry sectors where the French companies will have the chance to hire immigrants, each next year will be renovated and improved just for keeping the standards related to the needs changing in various places in France.
“According to the latest survey of the French employment agency, 44.4% of recruitments were challenging to fulfill in 2018 that shows how badly need some departments in France the skilled workers and professionals”.
According to current needs, the following sectors will be in high demand in 2020 for international recruitment:
| Panel beaters (Carrossiers automobiles) |
| Regulators (Régleurs) |
| Carpenters (Charpentiers) |
| Roofers (Couvreurs) |
| Vehicle mechanics and electricians (Mecaniciens et electroniciens de véhicules) |
| Qualified heat and surface treatment technicians (Agents qualifies de traitement thermique et de surface) |
| Electrical and electronic draftsmen (Dessinateurs en electricité et en électronique) |
| Domestic workers and cleaners (Aides à domicile et aides ménagères) Vets (Vétérinaires) |
| Surveyors (Géomètres) |
- End of restrictions of foreign worker hiring
The employers at the moment are required to justify why they cannot hire a French citizen through a complex administrative process for their set aside posts for foreign workers. Due to this hurdle, France could only recruit 33,000 international professionals and skilled workers. However same will not remain true, the new quota-based list of professionals will allow employers to recruit without having to justify that why could not they hire a French citizen. The catering objects and companies like hotels, restaurants or some sectors for retail have often complained about fewer workers in this industry with people ready to work for a low salary. On the other hand, the IT and technology engineering sectors are not receiving enough professional workers and this industry needs people from non-EU countries.
2- Family reunification policies
Though the complete ruling is yet to be published, it is clear that where someone can gain the right to live and work in France on the basis of a spouse or member of their family being here – will not be touched, the PM added.
3- Changes of rules for ‘Asylum Seekers’
The French president has been emphasizing on greater European cooperation on borders as France saw a sharp increase from 2017 till now in Asylum applications. The government’s measures about the whole situation can make France a harder country for those foreign people who are asking for asylum.
“Last year there were around 123,000 requests for asylum which is 22% more in comparison with 2018”.
France will make sure toughening the rules towards the access to the healthcare system (AME) for the asylum seekers. The government will have strict policies and checks on those asylum seekers who use two types of state benefits.
PUMa (protection universelle maladie) health cover is for every resident of France. But in the future, three months of the waiting period will be imposed before the asylum seekers can access it.
The prime minister also announced that the squalid sprawling migrant camps on the northern edge of Paris would be cleared out “before the end of the year.” The government passed a law in 2018 to reduce the asylum application processing timings from one year to six months but that could not have any practical impact what so ever. However, the government is still once again ready to take steps to fast forward the process to process asylum applications in the near future.
Government concerns about illegal immigration
President Macron notes that the number of asylum seekers is increased in comparison with 2017 and the necessity of tighter EU collaboration is really high.
He said that European collaboration is not that good and they have to make the right decisions on their own related to this immigration process.
The president once said that even if they are able to host every foreigner correctly, they will not stay an attractive country anymore.
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