Work visas a sore point in India-UK FTA parleys

India's demand for visas for professionals under the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK is among several sticky issues currently being negotiated by both countries, a person aware of the matter said on Friday.

- Rhik Kundu, Dhirendra Kumar

While India would like its companies to be able to hire people (both locally in the UK and from India) after setting up shop there, the UK is concerned with migration, an emotive issue in the country that led to Brexit in 2016.

"If Indian service companies are to operate in the UK under the provisions of the FTA, they should be able to hire manpower easily. The visa regime should be such that it helps the companies and does not deter them," the person said on condition of anonymity.

"The UK side has argued that they don't want to be in a spot where they are not able to address the migration issues," the person added.