[Agreement and asymmetry. Population and wages vis vis a vis the globalization of the economy]. / El tratado y las asimetrias. La poblacion y el salario frente a la globalizacion de la economia.

PIP: The free flow of labor and services across national borders will be 1 of the most difficult problems of future negotiations for integration of the markets of the US, Mexico, and Canada. The free flow of products and increasingly of capital have been accepted in general terms, and land and natural resources are entering the globalization process through external investment. In the trilateral free trade treaty between Mexico, the US, and Canada, the US is particularly interested in access to the service markets of Canada and Mexico. Mexico would like freer access to the other markets, and to protect its migrant workers. Canada needs foreign labor for its agricultural production. All 3 countries would potentially benefit from more flexible population movement. Mexico, Canada, and the US have very different structures, population dynamics, and labor markets. Mexico's population growth rate is the highest and its active population is increasing the most rapidly. Mexico must generate 1 million new jobs annually, the US requires 2.1 million, and Canada around 230,000. The 3 countries, with about 360 million inhabitants in 1991, must create 3.4 million new jobs annually. Because of differences in occupational and activity structures, levels of skill, salaries, productivity, and cultures of work in the 3 countries, it is clear that the new jobs correspond to different labor markets, making predictions about average salaries difficult. The 1990 average minimum wage in the US was about 10 times that of Mexico, while the average minimum in the manufacturing sector as about 7 times greater. The degree to which the trilateral treaty can contribute to reducing the differential is an important question. 3 possible scenarios suggest themselves. If current restrictions on mobility of workers are maintained, wage disparities will probably continue unless there is a very great foreign investment in activities throughout Mexico that require significant labor inputs. This would probably have a positive effect on unskilled wages. If Mexico does not open its service market, foreign companies would need to train and advance Mexican workers. A 2nd scenario assumes a general easing of restrictions for high-tech services while restrictions remain for unskilled workers. Unemployment among Mexican professionals and technicians in service industries might increase if they were unable to compete. The final scenario represents the longterm possibility of eliminating all restrictions on labor mobility between the 3 countries, which would result in improving the quality of life and working conditions of a large number of persons. Regardless of the outcome, Mexico faces the task of increasing the productivity of its labor force.^ieng

Accord No. 000244, 30 June 1988.

This Accord publishes in the Registro Oficial the text of the Andean Instrument on Labour Migration, adopted by the National Congress of Ecuador on 24 June 1987. Under the Instrument, member countries are not to impede the entry and departure of migrant workers who have been contracted in conformity with the Instrument and the immigration laws of the country of immigration. Migrant workers are not to be discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, religion, or nationality and are to have, in general, the same rights of workers of the country of immigration. Workers and their families are also to have the same rights as nationals to education, housing, health care, and social security. Further provisions of the Instrument set forth specific rules with respect to temporary workers, border workers, and undocumented workers.

Executive Decree No. 13, 27 May 1988.

Among other things, this Decree provides that all employers are to have a work force 95% of which consists of workers of Panamanian origin or the foreign spouses of Panamanian citizens with 10 years' residence in Panama. The Decree also provides that foreign workers may not make up more than 12% of employees employed in specialized or technical jobs.

The Aliens Employment Levy (Repeal) Act, 1988 (No. 4 of 1988), 10 February 1988.

This Act repeals the Saint Kitts and Nevis Aliens Employment Levy Act, which imposed on employers the duty to collect a levy from the income paid to aliens working for them.

Decree No. 1991, Regulations to the Law on Foreigners, 30 June 1986.

Among other things, these Regulations set forth rules on requirements for visas established in the Ecuador Law on Foreigners. They list the amounts of income from abroad or investments in Ecuador required of foreigners entering Ecuador with immigrant visas, documents needed by persons working permanently in enterprises and institutions under immigrant visas, and methods of proof of dependency for persons entering on immigrant visas as dependents. In this context, they provide that persons with foreign income must receive at least $1,000 per month, with an increase of 80% Ecuadorian personnel; that persons entering as workers must inform authorities of changes in work status; and that persons entering as dependents may themselves work only if their sponsor dies or the means of subsistence of the sponsor decrease. The Regulations also set forth requirements for persons entering Ecuador on nonimmigrant visas, such as refugees, students, temporary workers, religious personnel, and those in transit. With respect to refugees, the rules provide that false statements made in an application will trigger an expulsion order; that foreign nationals coming from a country other than that where they suffered persecution will not be admitted unless they were in that country in direct transit; that refugees may not leave the country without express permission; and that, if the conditions justifying asylum change, a refugee will be required to leave the country. With respect to workers, the rules provide that an applicant must show a need for a foreign worker that cannot be fulfilled by an Ecuadorian worker and must show a work contract or appointment. With respect to those in transit, the rules provide that no visa is required and that entry will be denied to those lacking permission to enter the country of destination and transit through countries bordering Ecuador that are on their route. Persons in this category may stay in Ecuador for only a limited time--usually 10 days for persons en route and three months for visitors. The Regulations also contain provisions on the modification of immigration status, including the rule that the status of those in transit may not be modified. In addition, they set forth the functions of the Consultative Council on Migration Policy. Among these is the task of promoting internal migration to sparsely populated areas of the country.

Accord No. 8 of 19 August 1988.

The objective of this Accord is to facilitate the entry into Honduras of foreigners who desire to invest in agricultural, agro-industrial, industrial, tourism, and export projects. The Accord establishes an investment visa scheme for 1) foreign investors and business persons and their spouses and economic dependents and 2) technicians and specialist experts and workers and their spouses and economic dependents. The visas are free and are good 1) for three months' residence in Honduras with three-month extensions possible up to a period of one year and 2) for one month, renewable in one-month periods up to six months. Further provisions of the Accord set forth procedures, documentary requirements, and registration requirements, among other things.