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1. Slovakia amends its law on foreigners
As of 1 January 2007, a new Slovak law on foreigners became
effective. The law harmonises the Slovak legislation with the
European norms. Under the new regulation, trafficked people
will be able to gain extension of their residence permit beyond
the reflection period and receive a residence and a work permit.
2. New Russian law on migrants
A new law, effective from 1 January 2007, introduces quotas
on migrant workers and imposes heavy fines on businesses that
employ illegal workers. Most affected will be the millions of
workers from Central Asia and the Caucasus who work in open-air
markets. The decree will decrease the number of non-Russians
working in outside markets and kiosks to 40 per cent and will
be further decreased by the end of the year.
Critics say the new regulation represents a worrying shift to the right, and gives in to growing prejudice against illegal immigrants and foreigners. Some analysts argue that the effects of the new legislation will be mixed. However, one of the benefits is the simplification of registration rules for migrants in Russia and a longer period during which migrants can register themselves.
Migrant workers are particularly concerned by issues of implementation,
fearing it will be used to intimidate them.
3. German EU Presidency to be tough on
migration
Germany’s six-month term as the President of the European
Union began in January 2007. It announced it would focus on
tackling irregular immigration. Germany’s Interior Minister,
Wolfgang Schäuble, said he planned to link economic help
and possible labour quotas to the willingness of transit countries
to co-operate with the EU in this area. He further stressed
“we can’t accept [that] countries of origin won’t
take back illegal migrants.” Together with his French counterpart,
Nicolas Sarkozy, they want to present an initiative on migration
introducing sanctions for third countries that do not co-operate
on return matters. Germany also envisages shifting the current
focus on migration from Africa to immigration from Eastern Europe
during its presidency.
4. Council of Europe Convention signature
promise
The British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced on 22 January
2007, that the UK Government would sign to the Council of Europe
Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings.
The UK has so far been reluctant to sign the Convention because
of the provision of an automatic reflection period for all trafficked
people.
It is expected the Convention will be signed in March 2007, in connection with the UK commemorating 200 years since Britain abolished the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
5. Thai trafficked people to receive compensation
in the US
A total of US$1 million will be paid to a group of trafficked
Thai workers by a steel company in northern California. The
workers were recruited by a recruitment agency based in Thailand
and the United States. An agency representative brought 49 Thai
nationals to the US, where their passports were taken away.
They paid as much as US$15,000 for the arrangements. The accommodation
they were let was squalid, and lacked water, electricity and
gas. The recruiter subjected them to frequent threats of arrest
if they attempted to escape.
After
the allegations of trafficking emerged, the company where the workers were employed, Trans Bay Steel Corporation, agreed to a financial settlement and offered some of the
workers full-time jobs and support for tuition and books for
professional training.
6. Assistance for trafficked persons in
Canada
Canada released new
guidelines for immigration officers (full text available
here as a PDF see bottom of page about
viewing it) to protect trafficked people, in 2006. Under the
guidelines, trafficked people are entitled to receive a temporary
residence permit allowing them to stay in Canada for up to 120
days. Furthermore, trafficked people have access to health-care
and trauma counselling. The entitlement to a temporary residence
permit is unconditional. There is no requirement for the trafficked
people to testify against the traffickers to obtain the residence
permit.
7. New publications
ECPAT Netherlands published two publications connected with
a Multi Stakeholder Training Programme on Trafficking in Children
in Europe, by the ECPAT Europe Law Enforcement Group:
- Combating
the Trafficking in Children for Sexual Purposes: A training
guide
- Combating
the Trafficking in Children for Sexual Purposes: Questions and
answers (these are PDF documents see bottom
of page about viewing them).
ECPAT UK published a report Missing
Out uncovering missing children being trafficked and
exploited in England (this is a PDF document see bottom
of page about viewing it).
Serbian organization Astra published a report Trafficking
in Human Beings (Children) – A look through the internet
window (this is a PDF document see bottom
of page about viewing it) looking a connections between human
trafficking and the internet. |
