Indian Professional and Skilled Migration to Australia and Singapore: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Following the negotiation of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), the movement of individuals or service providers across countries have attained unprecedented recognition. Professional and skilled labour migration forms an important study due to swift economic impact and technological transfer. To the host country, skilled labour means minimal cross-subsidisation of migrant's labour market adjustment by the receiving countries. This preliminary paper has a few objectives. The first is to provide comparative data on Indian professional and skilled migration to Australia and Singapore, secondly the governance of migration in these countries and how far they are adhering to the liberal egalitarian principle of granting people equal opportunities to prove their capabilities and a holistic view of the importance of Indian professional and skilled migration to the economies of Australia and Singapore. BACKGROUND The study of professional and skilled migra- tion is important as it is about people realising their potential, increasing their choices and en- joying freedom to lead lives they value. Investi- gation into the free movement of people reveals access to freedom of movement reflects unequal rights. Although the majority of the world's popu- lation are free to leave their country, only na- tionals of developed countries and highly quali- fied people have the right to enter whichever country they choose. Australia and Singapore have been selected as economic giants facing falling birth rates and the inability to replace themselves naturally. Foreign talent is required to check emigration of local talent. The re- searcher will look at how the barriers and blocked pathways that have prompted emigration can be avoided with the new talent. The issues that may arise due to the research on the Indian ethnic community is just as relevant for other commu- nities. It is hoped that through the findings, both the countries can learn something from each other. Migration and development has become a