India talking to UK on tighter norms for skilled workers

India has been consistently taking up the issue of tightening norms for skilled foreign workers with the UK at the highest level as it is seen to adversely impact Indian IT companies, Parliament was informed Wednesday.

The UK has been urged not to accept recommendations of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) in the interest of the bilateral trade in services between India and Britain and its "adverse impact" not only on Indian IT companies but on the UK's own economy and competitiveness, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

She said the recommendations of MAC seem to be contrary to the spirit of the joint commitment made during the visit of the Indian Prime Minister last year.

The UK has informed that the changes are not targeted at any particular country, she said.

As per Nasscom's estimates, the Indian software industry is likely to incur an additional expenditure to the tune of 250 million pound, the minister said.

"This would impact their competitiveness in the market. This would also make many services expensive to consumers in the UK as well," she added.