India to seek ease of workers’ movement at WTO

NEW DELHI: Faced with new issues of ecommerce and investment entering multilateral trade negotiations, India will counter with its own push and demand for easier movement of professionals across countries at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) next month.

India will, for the first time, organise a seminar at WTO to revive other countries’ interest in improving workforce mobility in the wake of rising protectionism, a top official told ET. “We’re organising a workshop on Mode 4 of services to bring in the key proponents and opponents of the subject,” the official said.

Movement of natural persons is one of the four ways through which services can be supplied internationally. Called ‘Mode 4’ in trade parlance, it includes natural persons such as independent professionals and contributes 1-2% of services trade globally, according to WTO.


Mode 4 is recognised by WTO as a means of supplying services. However, it does not concern persons seeking access to the employment market in the host country nor does it affect measures regarding citizenship, residence or employment on a permanent basis.

“Such a workshop is happening for the first time as movement of professionals is our core interest and this will help us in strategising for future,” the official added.

The workshop, which was in the works for almost four years, will begin on October 10. Brazil, Argentina and Peru have supported India’s proposal for the event.

STOCKTAKING EXERCISE
The commerce department is discussing India’s stand on various issues at WTO with officials from departments of industrial policy and promotion, telecom, information technology, fisheries, food and agriculture.