LABOUR MOBILITY - PEOPLE ARE NOT A COMMODITY We join the civil societies from Australia (AFTINET) in raising concerns about the pressure to include labour mobility arrangements in the PACER+ agreement. Pacific Islands stated strongly support programs for temporary migrant workers to access jobs in Australia and New Zealand. Pilot programs have begun in agriculture and other sectors, which exist outside the trade agreement framework. We also oppose the inclusion of labour mobility chapters in any trade agreement. Unlike goods and services, employees are NOT COMMODITIES. Trade agreements are inflexible and do not have clear protections for workers rights. Any temporary migrant labour programs should be made by separate government agreements which explicitly protect the rights of temporary workers and prevent exploitation based on International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions as well as domestic labour laws, and be part of wider development program to increase local employment and training opportunities in the Pacific Islands. We urge that any temporary labour programs be developed in the framework of development, not trade, and is concerned that any inclusion of labour mobility in PACER+ could be used as a bargaining chip by Australia and New Zealand for their benefit.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 00:01:44 +0000
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