59 mins ago
India Rebukes Vance as US Suspends Tech Firms from PERM
India objected to words US Vice President JD Vance used about some foreign workers.
He called them “indentured servants” and said some companies use lower-paid workers from other countries.
India said the words were hurtful because of their historical meaning.
The US also suspended eight technology companies from a programme used in the process for employer-sponsored green cards.
The US said the action addresses concerns about fraud and wages.
India said skilled workers from other countries can help both India and the United States.
The suspension does not by itself cancel existing H-1B visas, but it may affect some workers’ green card applications.
India called US Vice President JD Vance’s description of some foreign workers as “indentured servants” unwarranted and deeply offensive.
Vance alleged H-1B workers earn less than comparable American workers and said outsourcing firms use lower-paid foreign staff.
The US suspended eight technology companies from the PERM employment-based green card certification programme amid allegations of fraud and wage suppression.
The companies named were Microsoft, Tata, Wipro, Infosys, Adobe, Cognizant, HCL and Capgemini.
India said skilled-worker mobility benefits both economies; it noted the PERM suspension does not itself affect existing H-1B visas but may affect eligible employees’ green card applications.
- Who
- India’s Ministry of External Affairs, US Vice President JD Vance, and eight technology companies.
- What
- India objected to Vance’s description of foreign workers and criticized the US suspension of the companies from the PERM programme.
- Where
- The dispute concerns US employment-based immigration programmes and Indian professionals working in the United States.
- When
- The remarks and suspension were reported as having occurred on Thursday; no calendar year is specified.
- Why
- The US cited concerns about fraud, wage suppression and American workers being displaced; India said skilled-worker mobility benefits both economies.
India’s position
US administration’s position
Characterization of foreign workers
India’s position
India said describing workers as “indentured servants” is unwarranted and deeply offensive, and overlooks Indian professionals’ skills and contributions.
US administration’s position
Vance used the phrase while alleging that some firms rely on lower-paid foreign workers and undercut American wages.
PERM suspension
India’s position
India said talent mobility benefits both economies and that the announced steps do not advance the countries’ shared ambitions.
US administration’s position
The US administration framed the suspension as a response to alleged fraud, wage suppression and the displacement of American workers.
Key facts
- Programme
- PERM, a certification step in the employer-sponsored green card process.
- Companies named
- Microsoft, Tata, Wipro, Infosys, Adobe, Cognizant, HCL and Capgemini.
- US allegations
- The US administration cited fraud, wage suppression and concerns that American workers were being shut out or replaced.
- Vance’s wage claims
- He alleged H-1B workers earned $20,000 less than comparable American workers, and workers brought by foreign outsourcing firms earned $48,000 less.
- India’s response
- India called the terminology unwarranted and deeply offensive, and said Indian professionals are skilled contributors to the US economy.
- H-1B status
- India said the PERM suspension alone does not affect the validity of existing H-1B visas or the status of their holders and dependents.
- Potential impact
- The suspension could affect eligible employees’ permanent-residency or green card process.
Quotes
India's Ministry of External Affairs
India's foreign ministry, which issued the response to Vance's remarks.
“Talent mobility adds value to both economies. While it creates opportunities for Indians, it equally helps US companies with cutting-edge talent, innovation, research, productivity, competitiveness and job creation, besides creating shareholder wealth in the US”
businesstoday.in
“We believe that such descriptions are unwarranted and ignore the fact that Indian professionals in the United States are highly educated and skilled contributors to its economy and innovation ecosystem”
NDTV
businesstoday.in
JD Vance
US Vice President who criticized H-1B visas at a news conference.
“If you are working as an H-1B visa in the United States of America, you're earning $20,000 less than an American citizen hired in the same position. If you were brought in by one of these foreign outsourcing firms, you're making $48,000 less than an American citizen in a similar position”
wionews.com
businesstoday.in
“In the last year, Microsoft laid off 6,000 American workers.”
NDTV
Sources
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