13.10.2011 0

Provence & Côte d'Azur: Government policy restricts non-European graduates from working in France after their studies.

Dispute over jobs for foreign graduates

The French government has been forced to confront concerns that the current residency system encourages skilled non-European graduates to leave France rather than enter into the job market. Higher Education Minister Laurent Wauquiez says he will address the "misapplications" in the government's policy, which essentially obstructs foreign graduates' attempts to put their skills into practice.

Government residency policy restricts non-European graduates from working in France after their studies.
Interior Minister Claude Guéant

The policy, which was implemented by Interior Minister Claude Guéant in May, is said to be too strict when assessing the applications of non-Europeans who have studied in France and who want permission to remain working in the country.

Wauquiez says that there is no "policy of closing off entry to France," adding it is not the policy in place which is flawed, but the way it is being applied.

Guéant told the French publication Le point, "We are going to bring pragmatic solutions to concrete problems, case by case."

He also said, however, that in most cases non-European students came to France to study, not to enter the job market, "Their main goal should be to return home so as to enable their country to benefit from their skills."

Sarah Lloyd

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