In another thread DT was relating his struggles to get a work visa to take a job in Australia in the 90's and how the idiots in Australian immigration wouldn't let him come because of some stupid law designed to protect Australian jobs. It got me thinking (there's a first
), we are forever hearing these days about globalisation and the world economy so it would seem to me that the free movement of labour would be an essential part of that global economy. instead what we see are all these antiquated laws and bone-headed protectionism misplaced as patriotism.
So here's what I propose- the citizen of any country in the OECD should be able to move to any other country in the OECD for the purposes of employment without hindrance from immigration. If the immigration depts of the various countries want to stop a person entering the onus should be on the immigration dept to show that that person is in some way undesirable instead of the present sysytem where the onus is the individual and the company doing the hiring. Companies should be able to pick and choose the best people for the job without regard to country of origin. I may place the waiver though that a concrete job offer must be on the table.
Obviously there would be some natural factors that will prevent people from taking advantage of this system- language, family committments etc but for many people, especially those operating in the more professional fields it would be a godsend and for companies it would provide flexibility previous unheard of.
Now I'm sure some of you will say that people can already work in other countries which is true- I'm saying that the system has to be made much much simpler and more attractive. The reason many companies are reluctant to hire from abroad is all the red tape that is involved. I say throw the red tape out. If DT is the best man for the job he is the best man for the job whether he is Australian, American or Martian (the 3rd one I think ). The politicians like to talk a good game on globalisation, it's about time they started taking concrete measures to bring it about.
), we are forever hearing these days about globalisation and the world economy so it would seem to me that the free movement of labour would be an essential part of that global economy. instead what we see are all these antiquated laws and bone-headed protectionism misplaced as patriotism.So here's what I propose- the citizen of any country in the OECD should be able to move to any other country in the OECD for the purposes of employment without hindrance from immigration. If the immigration depts of the various countries want to stop a person entering the onus should be on the immigration dept to show that that person is in some way undesirable instead of the present sysytem where the onus is the individual and the company doing the hiring. Companies should be able to pick and choose the best people for the job without regard to country of origin. I may place the waiver though that a concrete job offer must be on the table.
Obviously there would be some natural factors that will prevent people from taking advantage of this system- language, family committments etc but for many people, especially those operating in the more professional fields it would be a godsend and for companies it would provide flexibility previous unheard of.
Now I'm sure some of you will say that people can already work in other countries which is true- I'm saying that the system has to be made much much simpler and more attractive. The reason many companies are reluctant to hire from abroad is all the red tape that is involved. I say throw the red tape out. If DT is the best man for the job he is the best man for the job whether he is Australian, American or Martian (the 3rd one I think
). The politicians like to talk a good game on globalisation, it's about time they started taking concrete measures to bring it about.
You are right though, us rich countries should stick together. Except France, we should bomb France. 
... plus.. flag it and go to melbourne
