Italian unions oppose visa freeze

MADRID, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Union officials in Spain say a temporary halt on issuing migrant visas throughout Italy won't help the country's unemployment problem.

El Pais/Expatica said Friday that Spanish Labor Minister Celestino Corbacho instituted the freeze on all migrant visas in an attempt to keep Italy's remaining jobs available for the country's residents.

"It's not reasonable that with 2.5 million people unemployed we continue to recruit workers from abroad," Corbacho said when the travel measure was introduced Wednesday.

Yet union and immigration officials say the new measure will bring about increased illegal immigration and not cause a decrease in unemployment.

Expatica said the government measure, which suspends a system that was aimed at allowing foreigners to fill employment spots in Italy, would likely only impact migrants from countries that aren't involved with the governmental system.