Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

New Zealand has introduced new rules for migrant workers who want to change jobs under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). The Immigration Department updated the job change process to strengthen worker protection and ensure that only safe and compliant employers can hire migrants. These changes took effect on 17 November 2025 and aim to stop exploitation while still allowing easy job transfers inside connected businesses. Under the updated system, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) now has the power to pause a migrant’s job change application if the employer involved has serious issues. An application may be paused if the employer’s…

Nearly 500 migrants every day are now signing up for benefits in the UK, with new figures showing that Universal Credit claims from foreign nationals have reached a record high of 1.3 million. The latest data revealed that an average of 472 migrants a day began claiming Universal Credit last month, marking a 6.7% rise in just one year. This sharp increase comes at a time when the government is preparing a major overhaul of the country’s asylum and migration rules. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce new laws that will make a migrant’s right to settle in…

An Albanian migrant discovered tending a £30,000 cannabis farm in Stoke-on-Trent is set to be released after a judge ruled that he had already spent enough time behind bars. The man, 23-year-old Hysen Xhakolli, had entered the UK illegally in the back of a lorry after fleeing problems in Albania. He later ended up homeless in London, where he agreed to water cannabis plants in exchange for food and a place to sleep. Xhakolli travelled from London to the Midlands after meeting another Albanian man who offered him accommodation if he agreed to take care of a drug-growing operation. Prosecutors…

A growing anti-migrant movement in South Africa is now blocking foreigners from receiving healthcare at public clinics. The group, known as Operation Dudula, has been stopping people at clinic entrances and demanding identity documents before allowing anyone inside. At the Diepsloot public health clinic in Johannesburg, members arrive as early as 6 a.m., wearing military-style uniforms and refusing access to migrants, including mothers with sick children. They tell foreigners to go to private hospitals, even though many cannot afford private care. This trend has spread across Gauteng province, the most populated part of South Africa. Healthcare has now become the…

Greece is pushing for a new migration plan that involves setting up return centres in African countries for asylum seekers who are rejected in Europe. The country’s migration minister, Thanos Plevris, said the government wants to begin formal talks with several African nations to support this idea. For many years, Greece has been one of the main entry points into Europe for refugees, especially during the 2015–2016 crisis, when more than one million people—mostly from the Middle East—arrived through Greek borders. Although general migration numbers have dropped since then, new pressure is building on the southern islands of Crete and…

Indonesia’s incoming ambassador to Malaysia, R.M. Iman Hascarya Kusumo, has confirmed that protecting the welfare of Indonesian migrant workers will be a top priority during his tenure. Appointed by President Prabowo Subianto on October 8, Kusumo emphasized that the existing framework for migrant worker protection is in place but can be strengthened further to ensure safety and well-being. Speaking to Radio Republik Indonesia, Kusumo explained that his plan involves improving coordination between Indonesian and Malaysian agencies responsible for managing migrant labor. This cooperation aims to ensure that migrant workers receive proper guidance and support even before leaving Indonesia for employment…

French authorities are set to use large nets to stop small boats carrying migrants across the English Channel, despite warnings that the tactic could be dangerous and cause deaths. The move comes as the UK pushes France to take tougher action against illegal crossings. Since spring, some French law enforcement teams have been equipped with “arresting nets” up to 30 meters wide. These nets can block boat propellers, forcing vessels to stop or change direction. The nets can also be used to intercept boats involved in drug trafficking. Patrol teams will include maritime gendarmerie vessels, with French Navy support if…

Bangladesh has launched a national digital platform to make migration safer and promote fair recruitment practices for its workers abroad. The Overseas Employment Platform (OEP) brings together all key actors in the labour migration process, including aspiring migrant workers, licensed recruitment agencies, the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), employers, technical training centers, immigration authorities, and reintegration service providers. The portal was developed by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (MoEWOE) in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Government of Switzerland. Officials say it will improve transparency, reduce reliance on informal middlemen, enhance service…

The British Government has instructed thousands of civil servants to track social media posts about migrants as part of new guidance aimed at countering what officials call “high-risk narratives.” The instructions come under the Cabinet Office’s Resist framework, which guides the Government Communications Service (GCS)—a network of 6,000 officials responsible for official messaging—on monitoring and responding to online content that could challenge government policy or spark public backlash. Officials are asked to flag posts concerning migrant housing, newly arrived asylum seekers, and specific ethnic groups. They are also told to monitor material that could polarize public debates or fuel social…

Greece and Germany are working together on a new plan to create “return hubs” in Africa for migrants who cannot go back to their home countries. The initiative focuses on people considered irregular or whose asylum claims have been rejected, rather than helping those applying for asylum for the first time. Greece’s Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris said in an interview with Greek public broadcaster ERT that the aim is to reduce illegal migration by making it harder to reach Europe. These hubs would be outside the European Union and would serve as a deterrent to irregular migration. The…