The British Governments plans to place restrictions on the rights of European migrants to access welfare have been receiving significant media attention. Much of it has focussed on how these are tough or harsh measures. The planned changes mean that new migrants from EU countries: - will not be able to access welfare for their first 3 months in the UK - will have to prove they have a clear prospect of gaining employment in the UK in the future if they wish to receive any benefit for a period longer than 3 months Exact details of the changes have not been released and it is not entirely clear who would be considered a new migrant. What is clear, however, is that the UK will still automatically grant permanent resident status to any EU national who has lived there for five years, guaranteeing full rights and eligibility for British citizenship. If these measure are considered harsh, what term could possibly describe Australias current policies towards New Zealanders?
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 07:18:35 +0000