IT industry body Nasscom has approached the European Union for a single work permit for IT workers, a development that would facilitate free movement of high skilled workers across 27 member states in EU.
"We have submitted our presentation with the EU. We have proposed a creation of a harmonised EU wide fast track single application procedure to issue a single permit (combining work permit, visa and residence permit) for the IT workers temporarily assigned there," Nasscom Vice-President Global Trade and Development Ameet Nivsarkar said.
He further argued that "they have a common currency and a common tourist visa, then why not have a single work permit".
At present, no harmonised set of admission rules and procedures apply across the European Union (EU).
EU has some 27 member states and each state has different regimes for work permit application, making the movement of high-skilled and specialised workers of a company within EU cumbersome.
If an individual working for an IT firm X, which has presence in two or more EU member states, then the person has to seek work permit from all the member states where he intends to work.
"This variety presents obstacles for companies active in global trade in services activities, as complying with national rules and procedures is often onerous, costly and time consuming," he said.