Tag Archives: Immigration

Italy

Italy orders food delivery service to treat motorists better | World | Instant News


By FRANCES D’EMILIO Associated Press

ROME (AP) – Italy is pursuing an online food delivery company, with a prosecutor lamenting Wednesday that food-delivered cyclists, many of them immigrants, are practically being treated like slaves.

Milan prosecutors said four major shipping companies in Italy had been given 90 days to improve their treatment of motorists, including providing safe bicycles, accident compensation, employment contracts and training, among other job protections.

Authorities also issued a fine of 733 million euros ($ 880 million). Prosecutor Tiziana Siciliano said the delivery “represents a fundamental relationship, without which business cannot function.”

The Italian news agency LaPresse said three out of four companies issued statements expressing surprise and arguing that they offered people flexibility and security of delivery.

With cafes and restaurants closed entirely or partially for months under pandemic restrictions, motorists carrying take-out food boxes are crammed into big cities and towns to help keep many Italians eating and safe in their homes.

The four companies have about 60,000 cyclists and motorbikes, almost none of whom work on any contracts, pension contributions, paid vacations, sick leave or accident benefits, prosecutors in Milan said.

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New Zealand

New Zealand Immigration Adapt to Changing Immigration Demands | Instant News


Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 9:37 a.m.
Pers conference: NZ immigration

The immigration system faces unprecedented challenges as New Zealand continues to respond to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

With border restrictions in effect for nearly 12 months, the volume of entry visas from persons residing abroad has decreased significantly across a number of visa categories, including visitor and student visa applications that are mostly processed overseas.

The reduction in visa volume, combined with new technology capabilities, has given Immigration New Zealand (INZ) a chance to survive and change the way we work.

INZ Deputy Head Catriona Robinson said that INZ has a responsibility to adapt to a changing environment and ensure we contribute to New Zealand’s COVID-19 economic recovery.

“As a result, INZ has made the difficult decision to close our offices in Mumbai, Manila and Pretoria by March 2021 and bring in more visa processing on the ground,” said Catriona Robinson.

“This is not a decision that we make easily. Our staff in these offices have made significant contributions to INZ and New Zealand.

“However, this office has been closed since March 2020 and without certainty when visa volumes can return to normal, INZ has had to make some difficult decisions.

“In addition, INZ is also planning to withdraw visa processing from our office in Beijing, while strengthening the risk and existence of our verification.

“The Beijing office reopened in September 2020 and is currently processing visa applications for individuals already in New Zealand. The processing time for visa processing withdrawals from Beijing will depend on a number of factors including visa volume and changes to New Zealand border restrictions. INZ will continue to monitor this for the next six months, “said Catriona Robinson.

The office closures will affect 329 staff, who are employed locally in each city.

Catriona Robinson believes that INZ is well positioned to increase its onshore processing capacity.

“The launch of new technology functions aims to increase efficiency and resilience across INZ, which will help us better manage peaks and troughs in visa volume while providing a better customer experience to immigration system users,” said Catriona Robinson.

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New Zealand

NZ immigration does more harm than good | Instant News


Sunday, February 21, 2021, 14:57
Pers conference: ACT New Zealand

“New Zealand immigration that is totally inflexible seems eager to disrupt New Zealand’s food supply chain,” said ACT Immigration spokesman Dr James McDowall and ACT Primary Industries spokesman Mark Cameron.

“The government should be in a foothold now, propping up export revenues from agriculture, but it seems unable to take a sensible approach to the Seasonally Recognized Entrepreneur (RSE) scheme,” said Dr McDowall.

“Instead it complicates the scheme and dictates how they should run their business.

“ACT proposes a common sense solution to anticipate disasters for the horticulture industry.

“This is not just about the Government’s failure to bring in enough skilled workers from the Pacific Islands where there is no COVID-19.

“This is about the lack of collaboration from Immigration NZ around workers who are already in the country, but otherwise not allowed to work because Immigration NZ is not flexible about who they can work for.

“ACT said that NZ Immigration should be as flexible as possible around visa status and where RSE workers can work, but for them it is as if COVID-19 has never happened.

“Despite the best efforts of industry leaders, Immigration NZ employers and lawmakers seem totally uninterested in discussing sensible pragmatic policies, such as rapidly changing visas for those already in the country or overhauling the Treaty to Recruit scheme. to offer jobs to RSE workers, “said Dr. McDowall.

“I don’t think the officials in Wellington know how dire the situation is,” Cameron said.

“Sector by sector we can face disaster, with the apple industry in crisis right now.

“Other vegetable farmers face similar challenges and farmers of berries and kiwifruit are close at hand.

“The Government’s approach has limited the number of workers from offshore and provides incentives to those with welfare to work in the horticulture sector.

“While well intentioned, it shows they have little or no understanding of the realities on the ground, and what it takes to harvest New Zealand crops.”

“It’s a physically demanding job, and any employer in the sector will tell you the same thing – New Zealanders don’t want the job, and many of them turn out to be unreliable.

“It’s a shame, but it’s the honest truth.”

“Our food supply chain will be severely affected by NZ Immigration’s failure to understand its purpose, and Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi needs to be aware of that reality,” said Dr McDowall.

“ACT says we need to take a sensible approach – fast track visas, allow those who are already here to work without delay, and allow workers from COVID-19-free countries to enter without MIQ, with reasonable health measures in place. on farmland.

“The way MIQ is regulated, these workers are more likely to catch COVID-19 in isolation facilities with people from countries where the virus is spreading.

“It is not too late to avoid the worst of what will happen under current policy settings, but the Government needs to listen to the sector and move quickly.

“If not, eventually New Zealanders will pay the price in supermarkets, and farmers will reduce their incomes, which means less investment in one of our main export sectors.”

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New Zealand

Government Eases Visa Restrictions For Visitors In New Zealand | Instant News


Friday, 19 February 2021, 11:30 am
Pers conference: New Zealand Government

Hon Kris Faafoi

Minister of Immigration

  • Automatic two-month visitor visa extension for most visitor visa holders
  • Temporary waiver of time spent in New Zealand for regular visitors

Visitor visa holders will be able to stay in New Zealand a little longer as the Government eases restrictions for those still here, the Immigration Minister announced.

“The government acknowledges that some visitor visa holders want to stay in New Zealand longer while the COVID-19 pandemic is still attacking people in their home countries,” said Kris Faafoi.

“We are also listening to New Zealand’s business sector, including tourism businesses, that say foreign visitors who are still here can help our local economy.

“So, if people are here on visitor visas that expire on or before March 31, 2021, the Government will allow their visitor visas to be automatically extended for two months. During the two month extension, which will be applied from the expiration date of their current visa, they will need to apply for a new visa for a longer stay, ”said Kris Faafoi.

Auto-renew will apply to approximately 12,500 visa holders.

Extensions do not apply to visitors on Covid-19 specifically for the short term two-month visitor visa, which was introduced in September last year.

In a second interim change to immigration arrangements, the Government has agreed to temporarily waive a rule stating that visitor visa holders can only be in New Zealand for nine months out of an 18 month period.

“Most of the current visa holders in New Zealand have been here for more than nine months now, which will make them unable to apply for another visitor visa.

“Ignoring the nine months of 18 year rule means that visa holders who are still here can apply for a visa in another six months.

“Even though applicants with visitor visas that expire after 31 March 2021 will not be eligible for a two-month automatic renewal, they can still apply for a new visa which gives them an exemption from the nine months 18 rule if they apply for their new visa previously. June 30, 2021. That’s because the temporary waiver of the nine months 18 rule will end on June 30, 2021.

“Applicants still have to meet all other requirements for a visitor visa, including proof that they have sufficient funds to support themselves in New Zealand, as well as pay for their return journey at the end of their stay,” said Kris Faafoi.

“Although we have made these changes to help many visitors who are facing uncertain and worrying situations in their home countries due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government wants to make it clear that people who are here on visitor visas are here as guests for limited guests. . time. We cannot guarantee further extensions or waivers when these changes expire, ”said Kris Faafoi.

He pointed out that the Government expects all migrants in New Zealand to ensure they are here legally and are able to support themselves.

“Temporary migrants who are in New Zealand without the means to support themselves, or who break the law, are at risk of being exploited or unable to meet their basic needs. Migrants who stay here after their visas expire are also at risk of breaking the law if they wish to travel to New Zealand or elsewhere in the world in the future, ”Kris Faafoi warned.

Immigration New Zealand will email affected visa holders to confirm visa extensions before March 5, 2021.

Editor’s note:

Further information on visitor visas will be available at immigration.govt.nz

Frequently Asked Questions:

How much money should a visitor visa holder have?

To get a visitor visa, applicants must have at least NZ $ 1,000 per month, or NZ $ 400 per month if they have already paid for accommodation, or have an acceptable sponsor.

How much does a visitor visa cost?

The visitor visa application fee is NZ $ 246 per application for one person. This fee includes an immigration fee and an International Tourism and Visitor Conservation Fee of NZ $ 35.

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Italy

Migrant families dare to cross dangerous mountains on the Franco-Italian border | Instant News


Issued in: Modified:


FOCUS © FRANCE 24

By:

FRANCE 2

|
Emerald MAXWELL

More and more migrants traverse the very high Alps at night, climbing the peaks between Italy and France. Unprepared for dark, snowy conditions and sometimes small children, they continue their journey amidst fear of being stopped by the police, hoping to reach a safe future on the other side of the Alps. One family from Afghanistan let a group of reporters walk with them for part of their dangerous journey. Our colleagues from France 2 report, with Emerald Maxwell from FRANCE 24.

Program prepared by Patrick Lovett.

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