India has asked Canada to respond to its long-standing demand of removing visa restrictions for short-term workers imposed as part of the temporary foreign workers programme and also make changes in the new labour market impact assessment requirements that was affecting mobility of skilled Indian workers to the country.

“Addressing issues relating to mobility of skilled professionals from India to Canada, including the procedural delays in visa processing, and removing other restrictions in the temporary foreign workers programme will be of mutual benefit,” according to a statement made by India as part of Canada’s Trade Policy Review at the World Trade Organization.

The Indian delegation pointed out that domestic companies were finding it difficult to send employees to their Canadian units on short-term visas due to the temporary foreign workers programme imposed in 2014, and it had hit services trade in a big way.

“The existing temporary foreign workers programme or global skills strategy of Canada is unable to cater to the requirements of IT professionals and other services providers from the country,” the submission stated. The programme makes it more complicated for temporary foreign workers to work in Canada because of elaborate procedures and increase in costs of bringing in foreign workers.

The new Labour Market Impact Assessment imposes onerous burdens on employers, thereby affecting skilled labour mobility from India to Canada, it added.

As per the rules, Canadian employers wishing to hire a foreign worker must first receive government approval before the hiring can take place in the form of a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). In order to receive a positive LMIA, it must be determined that the hiring of a foreign worker will have a positive or neutral effect on the Canadian labour market.

Canada is among the top five markets for Indian IT companies. The others include the US, the UK, Germany and Switzerland.

On trade in goods, the delegation pointed out that India has regularly highlighted issues related to export of Indian agricultural products including fruits and vegetables which face challenges due to burdensome requirements of testing, inspection and SPS measures.

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