Laborsphere

Restoring Control over the Immigration System — UK Government White Paper

On 12 May 2025, the UK Government published a major policy document outlining the Government’s plan to reduce legal migration, increase employer compliance obligations, and reshape the immigration system around domestic skills and integration. The proposals signal a shift away from using immigration to meet workforce demand, particularly in lower-paid sectors, and marks a continuation of efforts to reduce net migration to “sustainable levels”. We summarise the key proposed measures.

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Kentucky Prohibits Enforcing Workforce Safety Standards That Are Stricter Than OSHA’s, and Shortens Time to File Complaints and Issue Citations

With the rapid changes currently coming out of Washington, it can be easy to overlook changes occurring at the state and local levels. And given the prerogatives of the Trump administration, especially around OSHA and its anticipated relaxed approach to the adoption of new workplace safety standards, employers should be mindful and expect to see continued activity amongst “state-plan” states in the coming months and years.

To view the full alert, visit the Faegre Drinker website.

UK Immigration — Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, March 2025; and Home Office and Nationality Fee Changes

On 12 March 2025, the UK Home Office laid before Parliament the latest Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules. This outlines several significant amendments aimed at refining and updating the United Kingdom’s immigration system, and we summarise key changes.

The Home Office has also announced changes to immigration and nationality fees, which will come into effect on 9 April 2025. These fee adjustments apply to various visa categories, and we give a breakdown of some of the revised fees.

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Humanitarian Parole for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans (CHNV) Terminated

For U.S. employers, the termination means that they will no longer be able to continue employing individuals who previously provided CHNV parole documents to gain lawful employment in the United States. It is always best practice for employers to audit their I-9s periodically. If an employer has never or seldom performed internal I-9 audits, now is the time to do so.

To view the full alert, visit the Faegre Drinker website.

Bipartisan Push for Speedier Labor Agreements: Senators Unveil the Faster Labor Contracts Act

On average, it takes well over a year for an employer and a newly certified labor union to reach agreement on a first contract. Nonetheless, operationalizing the proposed truncated timelines will often prove difficult, and result in significant burden on employers. In this dynamic time of change at the NLRB and in federal labor law, it is essential that employers stay mindful and up-to-date on the changes and what they might ultimately mean for their businesses.

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Department of State Updates Eligibility for Waivers of Nonimmigrant Visa Interviews

The Department of State unexpectedly updated the requirements for nonimmigrant visa interview waiver eligibility, effective February 18. The interview waiver program (also referred to as Dropbox) allows qualified visa applicants to renew their visas without an in-person interview, offering a more streamlined and efficient process. These changes, which greatly limit the number of individuals eligible for visa waivers, come at the helm of President Trump’s Executive Order directing federal agencies to recommend ways to enhance screening and vetting of all visa applicants seeking admission to the United States.

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