Posted on 02/26/2009 2:30:52 PM PST by BGHater
It's protectionism, say Indian critics, that Congress has banned companies receiving bailout money from hiring foreigners on H-1B visas
With the economies in the U.S. and India both struggling and with unemployment rising,the outsourcing of American jobs to Indian workers has become an even more explosive issue. That's leading business leaders,politicians,and ordinary citizens in both countries to focus on a controversial visa program,the H-1B, that allows a limited number of foreigners to work at U.S. companies for up to six years. Critics have long claimed the program allows high-paying software-writing and engineering jobs at companies and state governments to go to foreigners.
On Feb. 23,the H-1B critics got a new round of ammunition. Data released by the U.S. Citizen & Immigration Services showed that in 2008,for the second year running, many of these visas went to Indian IT services companies that were sending engineers to the U.S. temporarily to work. In effect, a visa that had been designed for U.S. corporations to remain competitive at a time of talent shortage had become a blessing for the U.S. operations of global Indian companies, allowing them to send engineers from India, rather than hiring locally.
The news comes at a time when many Indians already suspect the U.S. is trying to put a squeeze on the country's successful outsourcing industry. Each year, the American government hands out 65,000 H-1B visas, and Indian engineers receive many of them. However, as part of President Obama's economic stimulus package, Congress passed provisions to bar any U.S. company that receives bailout dollars from directly hiring workers on these H-1B visas.
Fueling India's Diaspora
In India, there has been a swift outcry. "This is just irrational protectionism," says Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of India's Planning Commission. "It makes no economic sense at all."
(Excerpt) Read more at businessweek.com ...
“Each year, the American government hands out 65,000 H-1B visas”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XGJq8wrw5I
Funny, but all too real.
At least they are obtaining legal visas. India should be mad at Mexico for the reasons behind the ‘protectionist’ stance IMO.
And I really wouldn't want to live in that sh*t hole anyways, but I have to have a Visa.
So you Indians, STFU.
Cut the other 65,000 HB-1 visas and then they’ll have something to whine about. One of these days the American worker is going to get ticked off about not having a job.
Thank you! Come again!
Tough sh*t, India. It isn’t enough that four of my jobs have been exported to your country you consider it a RIGHT to come here and take the jobs we have left?
...but, they don’t want to verify the status of illegal alien employees. Why, people who obtain H1B visas might stay and become Republicans, illegals are registered by ACORN and vote Democrat.
It really is frustrating that they think they have a right to tell us what to do.
As if it will make much of a difference.
One answer, subsidiaries of these corps can set up shop in India, hire locally and get the bailout money anyway.
There’s that pesky word, “directly”.
had become a blessing for the U.S. operations of global Indian companies, allowing them to send engineers from India, rather than hiring locally.
...rather than hiring locally...
That's why nobody who works for a living cares.
LOL
I really don’t understand why any nation would have a problem with another nation (whos trade deficit is so high it should cause economic collapse) saying no.
Hey India, no. And sorry about that.
Next step is to cancel our subscription to “funder of failing third world governments”. I’m not gonna hold my breath on that one. I mean, isn’t Kenya on that list.
Ooops.
Obama will make it right so everyone in the World loves USA and is well fed and housed and given free medical care.
http://www.huntingclub.com/Community/Forums.aspx?g=posts&t=147230
Mikulski and Specter can’t imagine that somewhere between 66,000 and 300,000 jobs primarily in vacation and resort locations can be filled from among those 2.4 million Americans.
“...They have introduced S. 388, which would explode a cap of 66,000 H-2B work visas a year. The bill would allow any foreign worker who has used an H-2B visa to take a job from an American in the last three years to be brought back in over the next three years without counting against the 66,000 cap. Potentially, the number of H-2B visa workers could multiply two, three or four times...”
In related news, Microsoft is cutting contractor rates by 10% starting next month. Seems theres an abundance of
talent at least in the Seattle area. Middleaged SWE’s needn’t even bother here unless they are interested in a
20% or more wage cut.
I’m clearing out, leaving the house empty and the key in the door and heading to MidAmerica. My thanks for studying hard in school and defending the country in my youth is having my hourly rate be lower with each contract and no employer willing to offer FT with benefits. Oh well, better to just die quietly than to opine whether it might be fitting for there to be at least some health coverage for someone in the latter part of their career and with a heath condition...
“Potentially, the number of H-2B visa workers could multiply two, three or four times...”
Potentially, displaced American workers could stop worrying about what those s**theads in Washington are doing and instead turn their anger on the visa holders. Tempers are getting short and the .gov knows it. Instead of doing their constitutional duty they will put the boot down on native born Americans.
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