France will partially open the borders to economic migrants. If specific industries cannot find French personnel, employees may be brought from abroad. Quotas are set for this.
It is determined each year what the needs of companies are and how many foreign labour migrants are welcome. We are not going to set quotas for certain nationalities. We come up with quotas for certain professions, “Minister Muriel Pénicaud (Labor) emphasises.
She pointed out that so far only 13 percent of all residence permits go to so-called labour migrants. “At the same time, half of the French companies sometimes cannot find staff.”
The minister will sit down with the business community this month. In March next year, there must then be an overview of which sectors may use the “guest workers”, and what numbers of foreign workers are needed.
The measures are part of the new migration and integration policy presented by the French government. The purpose of this is primarily to “get a grip” on migration. “Until now, we have often waited”, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said at the presentation of 20 concrete measures.
In many cases, the rules are stricter. For example, France is going to lock up migrants more often and then deport them sooner if they are not eligible for asylum. For migrants who want French nationality, stricter language requirements will be introduced.
Asylum seekers also get access to “normal” healthcare only after three months. Now they are entitled to that right after submitting their application, but that system “is being abused by asylum seekers from safe countries,” the government said. Fraud and abuse of the rules, for example by minor migrants, will be tackled harder.
At the same time, the French government wants to speed up asylum procedures and 16,000 homes will be available next year for “worthy reception” of recognised political refugees.
Prime Minister Philippe said he wanted to introduce a balanced policy of “rights and obligations” for migrants. “We want to listen to the concerns of the French but not fall into populism.”