ICYMI: Strikes, strikes, and more strikes...(and also immigration)

Welcome to our latest update post for the world of mobility! As a reminder, we publish these In Case You Missed It features bi-weekly to keep you aware of the variety of events and happenings that might impact your global talent mobility. Travel and immigration continue to be impacted by strikes, politics, changing economic landscapes, weather and so many more things in today's world! Whether you're a business leader, HR mobility professional, or a globally mobile employee, this post will provide you with the latest information and guidance to navigate everything. So let's dive in:

1. Canada: Canada is in the news as the Canadian government is seeking compensation for air travelers when flights are cancelled or significantly delayed, except in very limited circumstances. Our friends at Envoy Global have also reported that the Canadian government has confirmed that the Public Sector Alliance of Canada, which includes workers from the immigration department (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), is on strike. For further information on disrupted services, check here. This strike began on 19 April 2023 and continues to affect all of these services::
   • Immigration application processing will be delayed; 
   • In-person appointments or events including citizenship ceremonies; 
   • Contacting the IRCC via email, phone or social media; 
   • Consular citizenship and passport services; 
   • Passport services in Canada, including new passports and renewals; 
   • Temporary Foreign Worker Program, including those that require a labor market assessment (LMIA). 
2. Denmark: Denmark took the top spot in the 2023 World Citizenship Report, which launched April 20th. The World Citizenship Report ranks 188 countries across five key motivators defining citizenship for the global citizen. Switzerland and Finland came in 2nd and 3rd! The report also found that a competitive economy, public services, and environmental sustainability are the three areas where individuals feel most let down by their governments.
3. Germany: strikes on April 26 across five German regions created travel delays and disruptions, according to Crisis24. The Berlin and Hamburg airports have become the latest transport hubs in Germany to be affected by strikes. 
4. Italy: Per Euronews, railway staff from all around Italy will strike from 9pm on April 30th to 9pm on May 1st. There aren't currently any details as to which rail operators or services will experience the greatest amount of disruption. There will also be a nationwide, 24-hour general strike on May 26th. Additionally, cabin staff at Air Dolomiti, a subsidiary of Lufthansa operating routes from Germany to 13 different Italian destinations, will take part in a 24-hour national strike on May 19th. 
5. France: There are likely to be issues due to ongoing strikes and protests in France. May 1st is France's Labour Day which is a traditional day for labor union action. Unions have called for widespread protests and disruption to regular services is to be expected. EasyJet’s CEO Johan Lundgren says that the consequences of the recent air traffic controller (ATC) strike in France are completely unacceptable, and he urged the authorities to address the issues before tourists take off to other destinations.
6. United Kingdom: Security staff at Heathrow are planning to strike over the King's Coronation weekend, from May 4th-10th and again from May 25th to 26th as part of a dispute over pay. Whereas the organizing union Unite says it will cause "mayhem", Heathrow says it has managed to keep the airport running smoothly during the previous industrial action, which involved around 1,400 security staff.
7. China: Per Crisis24, officials in mainland China are replacing the COVID-19 PCR test requirement for all inbound travelers with an antigen rapid test, starting on April 29th. Passengers must take an ART 48 hours before boarding their flight, but airlines will no longer check the COVID-19 test results of passengers.
8. Japan: EIG reports that starting on May 8, 2023, travelers from overseas will no longer have to submit proof of vaccination or a negative test result to enter Japan. Also, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, Israel and Japan agreed to a “holiday-work” visa, which would allow people from Israel and Japan, ages 18-30 years old, to travel and work in the other country for one year.
9. India: Bloomberg predicts blistering heat across swathes of India in May, which could hurt the economy and threaten lives. Should these heat waves become a reality, it will trigger spikes in electricity use as people switch on their air conditioners and fans, piling more pressure on the power grid and increasing the risk of blackouts. 
10. Australia: If you are from New Zealand, there are now fewer hoops to jump through if you're seeking to live, work and become eligible for citizenship. Per Fragomen, beginning July 1, 2023, New Zealand citizens will no longer need to apply for permanent visas before becoming eligible for Australian citizenship. 
11. South Africa: Good news for some companies. The Department of Home Affairs launched a consultation process for the Trusted Employer Scheme, which will allow eligible employers to utilize immigration processes with reduced administrative requirements and processing times. 
12. United States: Employer registrations for the H-1B specialty occupation visa hit an all-time high of 780,884. For the available 85,000 H-1Bs, total registrations for next fiscal year grew by more than 61% over the record high for FY 2023, according to numbers released by USCIS. This has raised red flags that some companies are attempting to gain an unfair advantage in the visa lottery process. According to this article from the Wall Street Journal, multiple employers are said to be entering the same applicants to boost their chances. It is suspected that several dozen small technology companies have colluded to enhance their chances that their prospective foreign hires will get one of the coveted visas.