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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ibnanv" data-source="post: 21836382" data-attributes="member: 218596">While the focus has been on the US, visas for IT professionals to work in Singapore  have dropped "to a trickle", prompting the government to put on hold  the review of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA)  citing violation of the trade pact.       With Indian companies being advised to hire local talent, they are  looking at relocating some of their operations to other countries in the  region. From HCL and TCS, which were the early movers to Singapore, the  list has expanded to include Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant and L&T Infotech.       "This (visa problem) has been lingering for a while but since  early-2016, visas are down to a trickle. All Indian companies have  received communication on fair consideration, which basically means  hiring local people," Nasscom  president R Chandrashekhar told TOI. For all practical purposes, visas  have stopped for our people, added another industry executive. Prompted  by problems for IT and the banking sector — where there is lack of  transparency on the capital requirement, the Indian government has now  decided against expanding the scope of goods where import duties would  be cut unless the concerns of domestic industry are addressed.       Sources told TOI that Singapore authorities were insisting on what is  called "economic needs test" (ENT), which requires compliance with  certain economic criteria, to deny access to Indian professionals. "They  are doing it despite the CECA clearly stating that there will be no ENT  or quotas on agreed services. This is a violation of the agreement,"  said an Indian officer, who did not wish to be identified due to the  ongoing negotiations.       The view in the government is that it is necessary to assess the  benefits that Indian industry derives from the agreement before going  ahead with agreeing to expand its scope.       Services trade globally faces such barriers for professionals with  countries insisting on fulfilling various conditions, including ensuring  that a local professional is given the first chance if he or she  possesses the same or similar talent.In recent years, Singapore has emerged as a key opponent of allowing foreign professionals into the island nation.   </blockquote>

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