In 2018, BAL identified a number of trends influencing and shaping immigration policy around the world. Among the most relevant changes to global business were: increased labor-market protections; more rigorous compliance enforcement; incentives to stimulate STEM sectors, as well as direct foreign investment; and the use of immigration as a backstop to changing demographics, especially
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Around the world, governments, regardless of political persuasion, are stepping up compliance by more strictly enforcing their existing immigration laws. Increased fines, penalties, and criminalization of unauthorized working and expanded audit activities are more often focusing on companies—rather than workers—for illegal hiring, improper or invalid documentation, failure to complete mandatory procedures and other immigration infractions.
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Immigration policies can help countries enhance or restrict the flow of foreign labor, depending on local needs. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, countries are finding creative ways to regulate immigration according to their individual economies and varying local labor demands across different industry sectors and geographical regions. The strategic use of these policies enables
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Did you know that U.S. citizens can be searched without a warrant at the US border? Were you aware that employees may have their company and personal phones, laptops and other mobile devices seized at the border? Did you know that, around the world, border officials are focusing on travelers’ social media profiles? Or that
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Companies placing workers internationally are not simply sending employees abroad—they are also sending their families. Global mobility managers have seen that family issues frequently cause assignments to fail and, as a result, are beginning to recognize the connection between a happy family and a successful overseas assignment. It is imperative that companies and mobility teams
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Singapore’s reputation for transparency, pro-business policies and trusted legal and corporate governance systems along with its strategic position between East and West offer global businesses a great location to expand into the fast growing markets of China, India and Southeast Asia. However, as in other nations, Singapore has increasingly focused on the number of foreign
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The Trump administration indicated in its regulatory agenda that it will seek to implement an electronic registration program for H-1B cap filings. With the deadline for FY19 H-1B cap filings fast approaching, there is increased speculation about whether the administration will pursue changes to the H-1B allocation system this year. This BAL White Paper explores
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Unemployment often serves as a country’s primary rationale for restricting skilled labor from abroad—the higher the unemployment rate, the more attractive the argument for limiting foreign workers. Though conventional arguments suggest that restricting skilled foreign workers would bolster local employment, a countervailing argument is well supported by evidence that, in fact, high-skilled immigrants bring fresh
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In 2018, Brazil will focus on implementing its new Immigration Law, now that authorities have released dozens of normative resolutions establishing visa categories, transitional arrangements, new procedures and criteria, and the new residence authorization categories. The New Law on Migration (Law No. 13.445) was approved in May 2017 by President Michel Temer and was implemented
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