Tue, 8 May 2012

An independent report commissioned by the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) and the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) suggests “effectively free movement of labour” among five proposals for improved business ties between the respective nations.

The other four proposals in the report undertaken by economist Dan Ciuriak are “effectively free” circulation of goods, movement of services and of capital, and an “informal closer economic relationship”.

Sam Boutziouvis, vice president of policy, international and fiscal issues at the CCCE, tells Recruiter that “the time has come to think seriously about enhancing our relationship”, and points out four key ideas for its improvement.

These are the development of “a formal dialogue to develop mutual professional accreditation”, the negotiation of “a labour mobility arrangement”, commitment on Canada’s part to the APEC [Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation] Business Travel Card and liberalisation in Australia of its youth working holiday programme to encompass Canadians.

Boutziouvis adds that with the two countries so culturally and economically similar, and geographically, there is little need for strict control of labour movements, and that liberalising the controls could be of mutual benefits.

As the reports says: “For companies doing business bilaterally, the removal of all red tape for business visits or for intra-company transfers of staff would provide a seamless operating environment.

“For both labour markets, job-mismatch unemployment could be reduced. For young travellers working to supplement their resources, the experience of each other’s country would come without procedural costs.”