The lower house of the French parliament adopted Wednesday a new immigration law bill sponsored by French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, aiming at tightening the immigration system in favor of qualified foreign workers.

The text, which is to be handed over for the senate's examination in June, will create a new type of residence permit -- named a "skills and talents permit" -- open to foreigners with qualifications that are judged to be important for the French economy and labor market.

But rules are to be tightened for migrants moving to France for family reasons.

Foreigners will be allowed in only if they can be supported not from state hand-outs but earned income; foreign spouses will wait longer for residence cards; and migrants will sign an "integration contract" committing them to respect the French way of life.

Sarkozy had said he wants France to "choose" rather "undergo" the process of immigration, the law has aroused a strong hostile reaction from the left-wing opposition, rights groups, the Catholic church and some African countries.

Critics say the law risks creaming off the most talented people from countries where they are badly needed, and will make life harder for ordinary migrants.

Sarkozy left Wednesday for Mali and Benin to explain his controversial new law.

According to the latest census figures in 1999, 4.33 million foreign nationals are living in France, and every year a further 140,000 are entering using legal channels, in addition to some 90, 000 who are believed to enter illegally every year, mainly by overstaying on short-term visas.

Source: Xinhua