LABOUR MOBILITY IN THE CARICOM SINGLE MARKET & ECONOMY (CSME) Steven Mac Andrew Specialist, Movement of Skills / Labour, CSME Unit

Three pronged approach to development adopted in July 2007 : –Deepening and strengthening integration process (CSME) –Widening of the Community (new Members) –Full and effective participating in global economic and trading arrangements (external process / negotiations) Twelve Member States are participating in the CSME

What is the CARICOM Single Market and Economy ( CSME) ? CSME = integral part of the Community CSME = single, seamless economic space CSME = rules based entity CSME consists of two main components : –Single Market –Single Economy

Key principles in the CSME : –Equal rights and treatment for all persons of Member States in the Market –National treatment(Art 7) –Most Favoured Nation Treatment (Art 8) –Exceptions –Differential treatment Less Developed Countries (LDC’s) Disadvantaged countries, regions, sectors

KEY ELEMENTS – SINGLE MARKET : –Movement of Capital –Movement of Skills / Labour –Movement of Services –Right of Establishment –Movement of Goods

Key elements – SINGLE ECONOMY : –Production Integration –Harmonisation of Fiscal Policies –Harmonisation of Investment Policies –Monetary Integration –Capital Market Integration and Development

MOBILITY – TREATY OBLIGATION -Enshrined in the Revised Treaty in Articles 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 45, 46 -Member States obliged to facilitate movement -Movement can occur under Free Movement of Skills, Provision of Services and Right of Establishment

FREE MOVEMENT OF SKILLS : university graduates artistes musicians media workers Sportspersons Teachers Nurses Self-employed, including key staff

FREE MOVEMENT OF SKILLS : In February 2007 Heads of Government agreed to the full free movement by 31 December 2009 Phased approach has been adopted By 31 December 2007 Artisans and holders of associate degrees, including equivalent qualifications must be able to move

MOVEMENT OF SERVICES : From the territory of one Member State into the territory of another Member State. Also called cross border supply. In the territory of one Member State to the service consumer of another Member State. This mode is therefore also called consumption abroad. By a service supplier of one Member State through commercial presence in the territory of another Member State. By a service supplier of one Member State through the presence of natural persons of a Member State in the territory of another Member State. This mode is also called temporary movement.

RIGHT OF ESTABLISHMENT: Engage in any non-wage-earning activities of a commercial, industrial, agricultural, professional or artisanal nature; and Create and manage economic enterprises

Experience with Free Movement so far : Barbados1253 Belize 36 Dominica 52 Grenada 93 Guyana 1355 Jamaica 900 Saint Lucia 147 St. Vincent & The Grenadines 73 Trinidad and Tobago 1368 Suriname 28

Related issues : –Spouses and dependants; Freedom of movement extended to spouse and dependants –Contingent Rights; Protocol on Contingent Rights must be negotiated –Social Security CARICOM Agreement on Social Security in effect since 1 April 1997; –Security Security arrangements have been beefed up in the past months

Related issues (continued): –Human Resource Development; Introduction of Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) –Social Floor; Minimum set of rights to be respected in the CSME

DISCRETIONARY MIGRATION POLICIES : –No obligation to facilitate. Member States have full discretion. –Most important form of movement at this point in time –Will definitely remain so in In the course of 2008 situation might start to change

MONITORING CRITICAL : –Actual figures to inform policy decisions –Security implications –Free Movement Database –Immigration Network

CONCLUDING REMARKS : –Obligation as a result of CSME process –National treatment to be granted –Discretionary migration policies will remain dominant on short term –Need to consider further management of migration in the CSME

THANK YOU