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Jul 11, 2025
Viren S Doshi

Global Talent and Labour Markets: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges in an Interconnected World

Coupling Free Trade Agreements with Free Migration Agreements Introduction Global talent and labour markets are pivotal to economic growth, innovation and trade in an interconnected world. As technology reshapes industries and demographic shifts redefine workforce dynamics, nations compete to attract skilled talent while ensuring ethical labour practices. Wage disparities across countries significantly influence the production and trade of goods and services, creating both opportunities and challenges. This article explores global talent and labour markets, country-specific trends, efforts to prevent exploitation of talent and labour, the dynamics of opaque and open markets, cross-country migration, the US talent pool with concerns about intellectual property (IP) theft by Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-occupied China and India’s role as a human resource hub for talent and labour with human values. Country-Wise Status with respect to Global Norms Talent and labour markets across the globe vary due to political-economic-education systems and migration policies, as well as demographic and natural resources of the nations. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Talent Attractiveness Index ranks New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia and Norway as top destinations for skilled migrants, citing flexible visa policies and inclusive environments. The United States, despite its economic dominance based on a legacy of pooling talent from across the globe over centuries, is now in a controlling phase with a restrictive H-1B visa quota, although it is in need of talent and is also well-positioned to absorb more. The Trump Administration is poised to do a complete overhauling of this skewed lottery-type visa system, and this would be likely more appropriate for pooling talent, particularly from countries like India and Israel. India is projected to have a surplus of over 1 million high-skilled English language proficient, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) stream and other tech workers by 2030, positioning it as a global human resource leader. In contrast, CCP-occupied China has prioritised domestic talent development through programs like the Thousand Talents Plan, though its innovation ecosystem is known for stifling creativity due to IP theft “culture” and exploitative, close, opaque and dual economy - conveniently “capitalist” for the rest of the globe and strictly “communist” at home with thriving of corrupt dictatorial elite oligarchic expansionist regimes. European nations, like Germany and the UK, experience high outflows of inventors, often to the US, which hosts 57% of the global immigrant inventors. Global norms, as outlined by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), emphasise decent work, including fair wages and skills-based hiring. The ILO’s 2024 Global Wage Report notes that real wages in high-income countries grew by 1.7% annually, while low-income countries other than India saw stagnation, exacerbating inequalities. These wage disparities drive trade, with an exploitative regime CCP and low-wage countries like Bangladesh dominating manufacturing exports (e.g. textiles, 12% of global share), while high-wage nations like the US and Germany lead in high-value services like technology (20% of global service exports). Prevention of Exploitation Exploitation remains a critical issue, particularly for low-skilled and migrant workers. The ILO estimates that 25 million workers globally are in forced labour, often in supply chains for traded goods like electronics and textiles. In CCP-occupied China, credible reports, including from the ILO and human rights organisations, highlight the use of forced labour involving Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in detention facilities in Xinjiang. These workers, numbering potentially in the hundreds of thousands, are reportedly coerced into producing goods like cotton and electronics for global markets, raising ethical concerns about supply chain transparency. The Hukou system in CCP-occupied China further restricts rural migrants’ access to urban services, exposing them to exploitation in export-driven industries. The ILO’s Decent Work Agenda advocates for fair pay, safe conditions and social protections to combat such issues. Labour organisations play a vital role in advocating for worker rights, but communist and leftist political agendas have turned these organisations into political tools, and some of them now act as stumbling blocks for economies. Amid this, in India, the nationalist Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), one of the world’s largest labour organisations, promotes a unique message: “Workers, unite the world.” Unlike traditional calls for worker solidarity, BMS emphasises global unity through labour contributions, aligning with India’s role in fostering ethical labour practices and supporting trade competitiveness. Globally, bilateral labour agreements (BLAs) regulate temporary migration and protect workers, as seen in agreements between Gulf states and South Asian countries. However, enforcement varies, and small enterprises often struggle to comply with complex regulations. The ILO’s 2023 guidelines on fair recruitment emphasise transparent hiring to reduce exploitation, particularly for cross-border workers in trade-heavy sectors. In coupling a free migration agreement with a free trade agreement lies the key to preventing exploitation and counter-exploitation, giving labour and talent market leeway for free, buoyant price discovery, maintaining fair competition and best quality. Opaque vs. Open Markets Labour markets range from opaque, with limited wage and opportunity data, to open, where transparency fosters competition. Opaque markets, such as in CCP-occupied China, where Hukou restrictions and lack of transparency in labour practices create information asymmetries, suppress wages and enable exploitation, particularly in export industries. In contrast, open markets like Australia’s, where 49% of businesses offer cross-border remote work, enhance talent mobility and wage competitiveness. The ILO’s Global Labour Market Conference (2024) highlights that transparent, skills-based hiring is growing, with 30% of Indian companies adopting this approach compared to a global average of 19%. Transparent markets support fair trade by ensuring equitable pay for goods and services produced. However, opaque practices, such as undisclosed foreign affiliations in talent programs, persist, undermining trust and efficiency. Migration: Legal and Illegal Cross-Country Flows - Threats and Opportunities Driven by wage disparities and economic opportunities, uneven labour markets shape migration, which in turn shapes labour markets and trade flows. Legal migration, like the US H-1B visa program, supports high-skill sectors critical to trade in services, with the US hosting 36% of graduate-degree holders in strategic industries. However, restrictive policies, such as green card wait times of up to 134 years for Indian applicants, hinder talent mobility. Fortunately, the Trump Administration is committed to revamping this “lottery” system. Illegal migration, often fuelled by low wages in home countries, strains labour markets and trade systems. The EU’s 2023 migration reforms aim to balance labour needs with refugee inflows, while Australia’s tightened policies reflect concerns over migration surges impacting local wages. BLAs, supported by the ILO, reduce illegal migration by formalising labour flows, ensuring fair pay in trade-heavy sectors like construction and agriculture and also help avoid terrorists, criminals and traffickers infiltrating in the garb of illegal immigrants. Labour Pay and Trade: Wage differences significantly influence trade. Low-wage countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam produce cost-competitive goods like textiles and electronics, capturing 12% and 8% of global manufacturing exports, respectively. High-wage nations like the US dominate high-value services, contributing 20% of global service exports. The ILO notes that wage disparities can lead to “race-to-the-bottom” dynamics, where countries suppress wages to remain competitive, underscoring the need for global labour standards. Free Trade vs. Free Labour Movement: While countries actively pursue free trade agreements (FTAs) to facilitate the flow of goods and services, they often hesitate to liberalise labour and talent movement. FTAs (such as the USMCA or RCEP) focus on reducing tariffs and harmonising regulations, but rarely address visa policies or naturalisation for workers. This reluctance creates a paradox: trade relies on labour, yet restrictive migration policies limit talent mobility. Coupling FTAs with liberal visa and naturalisation policies for non-terrorist, non-Jihadi, non-violent, non-proselytising labour and talent groups could enhance trade efficiency and equity. Such policies would enable skilled workers to move freely, aligning labour supply with trade demands, while ensuring security through targeted vetting. The BMS’s call to “Workers, unite the world” supports this vision, advocating for global labour cooperation to complement trade liberalisation. A Proposed Bloc for Free Trade and Migration: Secular and English language proficient democracies like the US, Canada, Europe and India, with complementary resources and population dynamics, could form a transformative free trade and migration bloc. Countries like Canada and the US possess vast land, water and natural resources but smaller populations, while India has a large skilled workforce but limited resources. Europe balances both, with advanced economies and moderate population density. A bloc enabling free trade and migration for non-violent, non-proselytising, non-Jihadi groups could optimise resource allocation, boost innovation and uplift the global economy without threatening the identities and values of the nations. For example, India’s tech talent could address labour shortages in Canada’s tech sector as well as the agri sector, while Canada’s resources could support India’s manufacturing growth. Such a bloc, aligned with the BMS’s vision of global worker unity, could foster a new global order, promoting long-lasting peace by reducing economic disparities and enhancing cooperation. The ILO’s frameworks for decent work could guide this bloc, ensuring fair wages and protections while leveraging targeted vetting to maintain security. Talent Pool in the US and IP Theft by CCP-Occupied China The US remains a global talent hub, with foreign-born workers comprising 36% of graduate-degree holders in tech and manufacturing, up from 26% in 2000. These workers, often earning 17% more than native-born peers, drive innovation in trade-critical sectors like software and pharmaceuticals. However, concerns about IP theft by CCP-occupied China have raised alarms. The FBI has linked programs like the Thousand Talents Plan in CCP-occupied China to economic espionage, citing cases of trade secret theft in industries like semiconductors and biosciences. The US’s dominance in high-value exports (15% of global tech exports) relies on open innovation, but weak IP protections in CCP-occupied China, where only 30% of patent disputes favour foreign firms, complicate trade relations. India as a Beacon of Talent and Labor India, the number one populous nation in the world as of 2025, is a bright star in global talent and labour markets, with a projected surplus of 1 million tech workers by 2030. The focus on upskilling (86% of companies vs. 70% globally) and diverse hiring positions it as a leader in tech and service exports, contributing 7% to global IT services trade. India's adoption of English language as a second and at times as a first language lends it the versatility required in overseas open democratic English language proficient labour and talent markets. Its civilised, non-violent, non-proselytising, non-Jihadi, non-expansionist, peace-loving, inclusive, accommodating workforce puts it on a higher pedestal in the talent and labour markets of the world. The ILO’s 2024 report praises India’s vocational training programs, which align skills with trade demands. The BMS’s message of “Workers, unite the world” reflects India’s vision of leveraging its labour force to foster global cooperation, enhancing its role in trade and talent markets. India’s ability to balance domestic development with global trade contributions makes it a model for emerging markets. India has been and can further act as a human resource powerhouse for English-speaking and Arab as well as African and Latin American nations, along with other Global South nations. Conclusion Global talent and labour markets are unevenly shaped due to wage disparities mainly centred on respective nations’ demographic resources, natural resources, political-economic-education systems and trade dynamics, leaving space for migration as labour and talent search for improved livelihood opportunities and better life standards. Legal as well as illegal migration of labour and talent is clipped and restricted by nations because of legitimate issues like crimes and terrorism as well as undesirable demographic changes threatening the very existence and identity of the nations. Free trade agreements are much talked about by nations, but free migration agreements are not talked. Free trade agreements can not be sustained in long term or even the short term if they adversely affect the labour and talent markets of the nations. Coupling them with free migration agreements can bring eternal peace and prosperity. Like-minded, secular, democratic, non-violent, non-proselytising, non-Jihadi, non-expansionist, nationalist countries with complementary demographic and natural resources profiles should think about free trade and migration agreements, as these can be highly successful in uplifting the peoples and global economy. While countries like India and the US drive innovation and exports, challenges like exploitation, opaque markets and IP risks in CCP-occupied China require action. The forced labour of Uighur Muslims in CCP-occupied China highlights the urgent need for supply chain transparency. The ILO’s frameworks and organisations like the BMS, with its call to “Workers, unite the world,” promote ethical labour practices and global unity. A proposed free trade and migration bloc among secular, like-minded, open democracies — the US, Canada, Europe and India — could align resources and talent, fostering economic growth and peace. Coupling FTAs with liberal visa policies and free migration agreements for non-violent, non-proselytising, non-Jihadi groups could further this vision. Transparent systems, fair wages and streamlined migration pathways are essential to harness talent while ensuring equitable trade and worker protections. This is the highway to sustainable global peace and prosperity.

Jul 09, 2025
Ramaharitha Pusarla

India and Argentina: Charting a New Strategic Horizon

PM Modi arrived in Argentina in the third leg of the five-nation trip on July 5th. This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 57 years. PM Modi last visited Argentina in 2018 for the G20 Summit. On his arrival in Buenos Aires, the City Chief conferred PM Modi with the Key to the City of Buenos Aires. Trump’s erratic trade tariffs and Europe’s carbon tax hurdles have forced nations to realign and diversify their supply chains. PM Modi’s five-nation trip spanning the global south attempts to chart a new course by rediscovering shared values to forge economic partnerships with resource-rich nations. Irrespective of the leadership at the helm of affairs, business and trade have largely driven the course of the India-Argentina relationship. India is the fourth-largest trade partner of Argentina. India accounts for 90% of Argentina’s Soybean oil exports. After the Ukrainian war, India has routed its sunflower oil imports from Argentina. Now, vegetable oils account for more than 50% of India-Argentina bilateral trade, which reached $5.2 billion in 2024. The trade peaked at $6.4 billion in 2022 but subsequently dropped due to drought in Argentina. As per reports, the first quarter of 2025 recorded a 53.9% increase in trade. Other major exports of Argentina include finished leather, cereals, pulses, residual chemicals and allied products. Two-wheelers are one of the major exports of India to Argentina, and pharmaceuticals, textiles are next in line. Indian investments in Argentina, valued at over $1.2 billion, include Mphasis, TCS, Comviva, Infosys, Bajaj Motorcycles, TVS, Royal Enfield, Hero Motors, and Godrej. Conversely, Argentinian investments in India stand at $120 million, comprising Globant, OLX and TECHINT. Argentina has the World’s second-largest shale gas reserves and third-largest shale oil reserves and is part of the Lithium triangle, the other two being Bolivia and Chile. In February 2023, India and Argentina signed agreements to promote cooperation in oil and natural gas. For the first time ever, India’s KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Limited) inked a deal with Argentina’s CAMYEN (PSU in Catamarca province) to lease five lithium blocks for mining and exploration in January 2024. In February 2025, KABIL concluded another MoU with Argentina’s Greenco for five Lithium blocks. Other than mineral and energy cooperation, India and Argentina have ramped up defence and nuclear cooperation. India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the Argentine Air Force sealed the first commercial agreement for the supply of helicopter spares and engine maintenance. In November 2024, the Heavy Water Board of India signed a four-year agreement for the supply of heavy water with Nuclear Electric Company of Argentina (NASA). Amid growing India’s energy needs and China’s weaponisation of rare earth minerals, Argentina which also has significant copper reserves could serve as a crucial, reliable partner. After the warm welcome at Casa Rosada Palace, leaders, PM Modi and President Javier Milei reviewed the entire range of bilateral cooperation and decided to diversify and expand the trade basket. To realise this, India sought Argentina’s support in expanding the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) signed in 2004 and which came into force in 2009.PTA, which is less comprehensive than FTA, removes tariffs on a limited number of goods. MERCOSUR, the fourth largest trade bloc globally behind the European Union, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). MERCOSUR include Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. To explore vital opportunities in health care and pharma, PM Modi discussed the possibility of moving India from Annexure II to Annexure I of Argentina's Pharmaceutical Regulatory Framework to expedite the entry of life-saving, affordable Indian pharmaceuticals into the Argentine market. ISRO launched Argentina’s first space satellite in 2007. In 2023, ISRO and Argentina’s CONAE signed several outer space cooperation framework agreements. Seeking to steadily elevate the defence partnership, Argentina's Defence Minister made the first-ever bilateral visit to India in 2023. This was preceded by two trips by the Argentine Air Force commander and the Argentine Armed Forces chief in 2022 to HAL. After decommissioning the Dassault Mirage fleet in 2015, Argentina is looking a replacement and India’s LCA Tejas jet was in contention. Argentina has also expressed interest in BrahMos. India and Argentina traditionally support each other in research and logistical support in Antarctica, especially Bharati and Maitri (India’s permanent research stations in Antarctica) and cooperate in the UN peacekeeping missions. Besides strengthening space collaboration, countries are exploring avenues in telemedicine, digital health solutions, capacity building, agriculture and food security, green energy, science and technology and people-to-people linkages. Yoga and Ayurveda are very popular in Argentina. Though separated by oceans, countries share democratic values and share inclusive, global development vision and hence are natural partners. India welcomed Argentina to join the India-led International Big Cat Alliance (BCA). Argentina backs India’s permanent membership to an expanded UNSC and is counting on India’s support for the resumption of negotiations with the UK on the Malvinas Islands dispute. Argentina, which strongly condemned the Pahalgam attacks, adopts a tough stance on terrorism. Argentina faced two brutal terror attacks- the 1992 Israeli Embassy bombing and the 1994 AMIA Jewish Centre bombing in Buenos Aires. President Milei showed great interest in India’s Drone Didi initiative in improving agricultural production and usage of drone technology for conservation of fauna, animal husbandry, surveillance of high-tension power transmission and discussed the possibility of using drone to tackle IUU (Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported) fishing especially in Argentina’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Cooperation in digital Infrastructure, building a startup ecosystem and sports also featured in the talks. PM Modi’s visit to Argentina comes at a time when the country is going through a phase of pathbreaking economic reforms. President Milei, known for his radical approach and kick-named ‘anarcho-capitalist’, is endeavouring to revive the economic outlook of the country through legislation- Large Investment Incentive Regime or RIGI, offering tax breaks for investments. This legislation has increased energy investments, steering the shale oil and gas production. Consequently, Argentina has transitioned from being an energy importer to an exporter. Impelled by the geopolitical uncertainties, plunging foreign reserves and rising inflation, Argentina directed energy investments towards the lucrative shale patch, Vaca Muerta. Asserting ‘resource nationalism’, President Milei is boldly tapping into the natural resources to resurrect the economic fortunes of Argentina. India and Argentina elevated relations to a ‘strategic partnership’ in 2019 during President Mauricio Macri's visit. Latin America offers huge potential for economic opportunities. Interestingly, the word ‘strategic’ is largely attributed to India’s relations with influential countries. But in the era of diversification, interconnectedness, to meet its growing needs, India must forge ties with countries far and distant. Latin America, though geographically distant, shares several commonalities in terms of world vision and similar challenges like food security, climate change, reliable supply, cybersecurity, and terrorism. As the World transitions into Industrialisation 4.0, countries require critical mineral elements to build modern technologies and infrastructure for the large-scale launch of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. India can’t afford to lag in this technological evolution. In tandem with its aspirations to build a scientifically advanced economy, India must ensure a steady supply of critical resources. India must widen its horizons and build reliable partnerships with countries. Besides being developing countries, the global south identity also binds India and Argentina. High-profile visits between countries in recent times have laid the ground for building a pragmatic relationship. PM Modi’s historic visit to Argentina signals India’s readiness to deepen the expanding economic partnership. References https://www.mea.gov.in/media-briefings.htm?dtl/39763/Transcript_of_Special_media_briefing_by_MEA_on_Prime_Ministers_visit_to_Argentina_July_05_2025 https://www.indembarg.gov.in/page/india-and-argentina/#:~:text=Indo%2DArgentine%20trade%20experienced%20a,trading%20partner%20and%20export%20destination. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/india-argentina-an-example-in-economic-diplomacy https://theprint.in/opinion/modi-visit-shows-argentina-now-matters-the-resource-rich-economy-has-big-lessons-for-india/2681071/