Money to support education on GATS.THE BOARD of directors has approved $5000 towards the publication Serving Whose Interests?, a guide to the impact of the World Trade Organisation's General Agreement of Trade in Services Trade in Services refers to the sale and delivery of an intangible product, called a service, between a producer and consumer. Trade in services takes place between a producer and consumer that are, in legal terms, based in different countries, or economies, this is called (GATS GATS General Agreement on Trade in Services GATS Great American Trucking Show GATS Gifted and Talented Students GATS Global Automotive Telematics Standard GATS GPS Aided Target System GATS Gyro Accelerometer Test Set GATS General Access Time Slot ). The guide, written by Auckland University professor Jane Kelsey, launched in January, warns any GATS commitments by the New Zealand New Zealand (zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. Government could have a "significant impact on domestic health policy and regulation, including provision of primary and secondary health care, access to subsidies, licensing and professional qualifications". The guide also states that importation of cheap health labour is likely under GATS. During debate, Bay of Plenty Tairawhiti board representative Helen Neal expressed concern that it was a large amount of members' money "going towards something a lot of people don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. a great deal about". She also wanted to know what would happen to the money if the health sector was exempted from GATS. NZNO NZNO New Zealand Nurses Organisation policy analyst Eileen Brown, who made the GATS presentation to the board, said many people were working towards exemption of the health sector and the publication would assist in educating NZNO members about GATS and its implications. A number of board members wanted more information on GATS before making a decision. Top of the South representative Trina Boyd encouraged the board to fund the publication so people could be educated in the hope the health sector would be exempted from GATS. She also urged members to take staff advice on the issue. The board decided to defer a decision for two weeks so they could get more information. A board teleconference was held in late February and members voted to approve the money. * NZNO has presented a submission to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade may refer to:
These decisions, compiled by Teresa O'Connor, were made at the February meeting of NZNO's board of directors. |
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