Labor Unions Raise Alarm Over Secrecy and Worker Protections in New India Trade Pact

CTU President Sandra Gray warns of exploitative labor risks as the NZ government prepares to sign the India FTA without prior public or union consultation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 27, 2026, 4:36 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Union Exclusion and the Demand for Tripartite Consultation

CTU President Sandra Gray has characterized the negotiation process as a failure of democratic consultation, noting that neither unions nor the general public have been permitted to view the text prior to its signing. Gray argues that a trade agreement of this magnitude necessitates a "tripartite approach" involving government, business, and labor representatives to ensure ethical standards are upheld. The CTU’s primary concern is that without specific labor clauses, the deal could facilitate the exchange of goods produced in "hostile work environments" where exploitation is prevalent. By keeping the text confidential until after the formal ceremony, the government is accused of undermining the very transparency required for a fair trade partnership.

Scrutiny of the Skilled Work Visa Program

A central point of contention within the agreement involves the provision for 5,000 temporary skilled work visas over a three-year period. The Maritime Services Union (MSU) has called for a suspension of the signing, arguing that introducing 1,667 workers annually is inappropriate given New Zealand's current infrastructure deficits and domestic unemployment rates. While the CTU is less critical of the visa numbers themselves, the MSU views the "secretive approach" as an affront to the local workforce. These visas are expected to target "iconic Indian occupations" such as yoga instructors and traditional AYUSH medical practitioners, as well as high demand sectors like IT, engineering, and healthcare.

Comparative Analysis of Migration Quotas

Despite the domestic backlash, immigration experts suggest that the visa quotas in the India FTA are relatively conservative when compared to existing international arrangements. For example, New Zealand currently offers 15,000 working holiday visas to the United Kingdom and 3,000 to South Korea annually. The India deal’s cap of 1,667 per year represents a small fraction of the total temporary migrant intake. Most of these roles align with the Immigration New Zealand "green list," targeting hard to fill specialized positions. Analysts point out that the level of political scrutiny often fluctuates based on the partner country, regardless of the actual scale of the migration flow.