Labor Mobility #60
Canada Will Fall Short of its 2021 Immigration Target.
Shelly Hagan | Bloomberg | February 16, 2021
Immigration is critical for Canada’s economy. Following the disruption caused by the pandemic, the volume of newcomers dropped to 184,370, its lowest levels in more than two decades. To fix the situation, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino has set out targets of 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021, 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023. The Royal Bank of Canada deems the plan overly ambitious. According to its estimates, just 275,000 new permanent residents will arrive this year.
Kenya Supports its Citizens to Work Abroad.
Xinhua News Agency | February 17, 2021
Nairobi acknowledges that its economy benefits from remittances and has a surplus of labor in the country. The state-owned Youth Enterprise Development Fund has developed a program to facilitate cross-border employment of Kenyans. Officials believe that temporary labor migration will boost foreign exchange, facilitate technology transfer and promote cross-cultural bonds.
Uninsured Ukrainians Will Get Free Vaccines in Poland.
UKRINFORM | February 18, 2021
The Polish Ministry of Health officially confirmed that Ukrainians legally staying in Poland will get free jabs even if they do not have medical insurance. The vaccine distribution will occur during the third stage that covers certain entrepreneurs and workers and all citizens over the age of 18. Authorities estimate that around 1.3 million Ukrainian nationals were living in Poland at the beginning of 2020. As of January 2021, only 530,000 Ukrainians are registered for national medical insurance in Poland.
The ‘Danish model’ of Exploiting Migrant Workers.
Marlene Spanger and Sophia Dörffer Hvalkof | Open Democracy | February 15, 2021
Known for its high social security and labor standards, Denmark is facing a public outcry. Danish employers have repeatedly violated collective agreements, mistreating and underpaying guest workers. The first conviction in a Danish court for human trafficking for forced labor occurred in 2016. In January 2021, a similar conviction took place. The exploitation of migrant workers has become an integral part of the Danish labor market.
Nepal Needs to Amend Regulation to Protect its Citizens Abroad.
Chandan Kumar Mandal | The Kathmandu Post | February 21, 2021
Nepal must make changes to several laws to protect its citizens from human trafficking and ensure their human rights. In June 2020, Nepal became the 176th country to ratify the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children. Still, the government has been slow to change the laws that govern human trafficking. Existing laws either fail to encompass broader definitions of human trafficking and have limited coverage or minimum punishment provisions.
