India has asked the UK to reconsider its proposed cap on non-EU migrants as it would hinder employment opportunities for skilled Indians in the country.

The UK Government is seeking to introduce an annual limit on the number of non-EU economic migrants admitted into the UK to live and work, but have not mentioned about short-term workers.

Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma took up India’s concerns on the numerical capping of economic migrants allowed in UK to live and work with the visiting Minister for Trade and Investment Lord Green on Tuesday.

“The UK immigration measures proposed will result in a numerical capping of non-EU migrants to UK. This will reduce access for skilled Indians. It would restrict flow of human resources and impact profit margins, competitiveness as also viability of companies on both sides,” the official said.

“We want the UK government to treat professionals on short-term visas differently and not impose any cap on them,” the official said.

Sharma also expressed concerns about the fall in the bilateral trade in the recent months.

Trade has fallen 12.5 per cent in the first eight months of fiscal 2012-13.

Sharma also discussed the on-going India-EU free trade negotiations with his British counterpart.

He stressed that it was important for India to get Data Adequacy Status from EU to enable EU commitments in cross-border supply to be commercially meaningful.

He also expressed concerns about the proposed safeguard clause for movement of contractual workers and independent professionals which, he said, would limit the benefits flowing from the agreement.

India sought UK’s help in resolving the issue with other EU countries.

amiti.sen@thehindu.co.in

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