1 hr ago
Indian IT Firms Defend Hiring After US Green Card Suspension
The US has paused a step that some companies use to help workers get green cards.
Eight technology companies, including several Indian IT firms, are affected.
The US government said the pause is connected to investigations into possible misuse of worker programs.
Officials have also said these programs should not take jobs away from American workers.
Nasscom says Indian IT companies now hire more people locally in the US and rely less on H-1B visas.
TCS says the pause will not significantly change its hiring plans or work for clients.
It says it plans to hire 15,000 more people in the US over five years.
The pause does not automatically cancel existing H-1B visas, but some workers’ green card applications may be delayed.
The US Department of Labor suspended eight technology companies from the PERM green card process.
The affected companies include TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
Nasscom said Indian IT firms have reduced H-1B dependence and expanded local hiring in the US.
TCS said the suspension would not materially affect its workforce strategy or client engagements.
TCS plans to hire 15,000 additional US employees over five years and said its PERM applications were in the single digits over the past two years.
- Who
- The US Department of Labor suspended eight technology companies, including Indian IT firms and US companies; Nasscom and TCS responded.
- What
- The companies were suspended from the PERM labour certification programme, a step in the employment-based green card process.
- Where
- The United States.
- When
- The suspension was announced on Thursday; TCS responded on Friday.
- Why
- The US officials cited active federal investigations and alleged misuse of foreign-worker programmes; the administration says such programmes should not displace American workers.
Industry response
US administration concerns
Use of foreign-worker programmes
Industry response
Nasscom said Indian IT companies have reduced reliance on H-1B visas, expanded US local recruitment and comply with local laws.
US administration concerns
US officials cited investigations into alleged misuse of foreign-worker programmes; the administration says such programmes should not displace American workers.
Impact on companies and workers
Industry response
TCS said the suspension would not materially affect its workforce strategy or client engagements, and that its PERM applications had been in the single digits over two years.
US administration concerns
The suspension may disrupt permanent-residency processing for affected employees whose applications cannot be filed or processed.
Key facts
- Companies affected
- TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe
- Programme
- Permanent Labor Certification (PERM), a labour certification step in employment-based green card processing
- Announcing agency
- US Department of Labor
- TCS hiring plan
- 15,000 additional US employees over the next five years
- TCS PERM applications
- In the single digits over the past two years, according to the company
- Nasscom estimate
- The number of employees moving from H-1B visas to permanent residency through PERM was relatively limited
- H-1B status
- The suspension does not automatically cancel existing H-1B visas
Sources
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