France’s prime minister announced a series of immigration policy changes earlier this month, including the implementation of first-ever quotas for non-EU foreign workers. The 20 measures are designed to help France “take back control” of its migration policy, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said, ensuring a “fair balance between rights and obligations.” Yet observers suggested the government’s plans appear to cater to France’s right-wing voters. While France is more than two years out from presidential elections, the immigration package appears to be a sign that President Emmanuel Macron’s administration is seeking to build support on the right to hold off the far-right National Rally and its leader Marine Le Pen.

The foreign-worker quota to address labor shortages is one of the package’s most notable measures, though others include delaying access to health care for new asylum seekers and dismantling migrant camps in the Paris area. “Taking back control of our migration policy means fighting back against abuses of the right of asylum, against irregular migration,” Philippe said.

While about 33,500 economic migrants were admitted to France last year, hiring foreign workers is a difficult process: under current law, employers must justify why a foreigner should be hired over a French national. Quotas would make the process easier, with the government working with employers to identify sectors where foreign workers can fill gaps, including positions such as electricians, mechanics, carpenters, and domestic workers. France’s labor minister noted, “It’s a new approach, similar to what is done in Canada or Australia.”

Yet critics say the quotas will be difficult to implement, as forecasting occupational needs is complex and details regarding length of visa stay, total number of visas released each year, and whether migrant nationality will be taken into account are vague. But perhaps more importantly, the measure seems to only address a small part of France’s current and prospective migrant population: the country received nearly 123,000 asylum applications in 2018, a 22 percent jump from the previous year.

The immigration package also included restrictions on how (and for how long) asylum seekers and migrants can access health care, tougher standards for acquiring French citizenship, and faster processing of asylum applications, with authorities aiming to make asylum determinations within six months.

These measures showcase tightening of France’s migration policies. Moreover, they come about a year and a half after France’s National Assembly passed legislation designed to quickly deport irregular migrants and speed up asylum application processing. While policies such as the worker quotas may help certain sectors, it remains to be seen if Macron’s rightward move on immigration policy will pay off in the upcoming electoral cycle.

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Alexandra Vranas-Carita

Editor, Migration Information Source