Anand Sharma links market opening to free movement of labour

Just as capital flows freely from one country to another, there should also be free movement of labour across borders, minister of commerce, industry and textiles Anand Sharma told the Global Investment Conference in London.

''If we are viewing the trade paradigm from a perspective of generating sustainable employment, it is imperative to address the issue of free movement of labour across borders,'' Sharma said while addressing a session on `Global Trade Partnerships.'

He also wondered as to why ''in today's globalised world, where capital and technology move with unprecedented speed, in unprecedented volumes across national boundaries,'' labour cannot move.

The UK's secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, Vince Cable and, Nigeria's minister of trade and investment Olusegun Aganga besides others attended the session.

Sharma said trade in the 21st century is vastly different from that during the last century mainly because of its strong trade and investment linkages.

It is because the 21st century trade is ''based on a strong trade and investment linkage, which is anchored in international investment in production facilities and trade in intermediate goods,'' he said.