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25 Jan 2009
A Republican senator has sent an open letter to Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer urging him to make sure that the company's planned 5,000 redundancies affect only foreign workers.
Senator Charles Grassley asked Microsoft to provide details on how many non-US citizens it employed under the H-1B visa programme, and what proportion of the staff being let go would come from this group as opposed to people born in the US.
"My point is that, during a layoff, companies should not be retaining H-1B or other work visa programme employees over qualified American workers. Our immigration policy is not intended to harm the American workforce," he wrote.
"I encourage Microsoft to ensure that Americans are given priority in job retention. Microsoft has a moral obligation to protect these workers by putting them first during these difficult economic times."
Grassley is a long-term critic of the H-1B programme, whereby 65,000 visas are issued to foreign workers with needed skills and an additional 20,000 to those born overseas who had completed their degree at a US university.
H-1B has been oversubscribed for some years, and this is expected to continue next year despite technology companies making large numbers of staff redundant.
Former Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has already called for an expansion of the programme, telling the House Committee on Science and Technology that the current limit is "arbitrary" and "bears no relation to the US economy's demand for skilled professionals".
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Do you agree?
Reduce H1B
As a direct beneficiary of H1B about 8 years ago, I know firsthand how much fraud is taking place in H1B program for the last few years, especially in the IT sector. From manufacturing experience, expertise, degrees to setting up bogus companies the whole H1B is tainted with massive fraud now. If govt. find 20% fraud, in reality it is more than 50%. H1B limit should be downgraded to 25000-350000 AND there should be a cap of maximum 20% from any single country. The IT and service sector has suffered a tremendous loss in quality because of rampant misuse by the H1B employees. But ALAS nothing will happen. The greedy big corporations brought these mess on us and they certainly won't stop at hiring cheap H1B employees.
Posted by: C. Raj 20 Feb 2009
H1bs are residents of america
Someone mentioned it is important to raise the H1b quota.In my personal opinion,it doesn't make sense to raise quota. It is very important to *REFORM* the H1b system so that folks on H1b visa don't have to leave the country when they're laid off .It is also important to make them less dependent on their employers to prevent abuse. Currently,too many are here who are not able to do what they want or they're working well below their capabilities because of limitations of the H1b system. There are a few things the government can do: * Give them green cards after they pay taxes for a certain number of years. * Allow them independence after they work for an employer for a certain period. * Allow them to start a business or a company, invent or create technology while being on a work visa. Currently,it is not possible due to limitations of the H1b visa system. * Allow them to stay and change jobs if they're laid off. The h1-b visa system is broken. It needs to be repaired urgently.The H1b system is designed in a such a way that it is against them and it is a "take it or leave it" visa. Please don't forget that H1bs are REAL people LIVING in America and they deserve to be treated under the laws of constitution which apply to citizens.It doesn't matter whether they are citizens are not .They are living in America and are part of the community wherever they are.Most Americans don't really get this.You know what, Most Americans are psyched that they have freedom and they don't realize that H1b folks don't have any freedom. Why are you content with the system? Do you want to have double standards for yourself and others? There are many other countries such as Germany which are highly attractive for Engineers. One advantage of Germany is that German government doesn't treat its engineers or workers (citizens or not) as commodities and throw them away when they're laid off. Everyone in Germany is protected by laws, whether they're citizens or not. President Obama mentioned he is going to reform the system and allow skilled workers to get permanent residence.We'll have to wait and see. Everyone on H1b visa and supporters of H1b visas might consider the above suggestions and write to your local senators , goverment officials with suggestions for H1b visa reform.
Posted by: A 09 Feb 2009
Lying Liars and the Lies they Tell
I am an American citizen. I have a BS in Computer Science and a MS in Electrical Engineering. I am unemployed. Anybody who says that there is a shortage of American Computer Engineers is a liar. Anyone who says that the H1-B visa program is not a fraud ia a liar.
Posted by: Dave D'Rave 26 Jan 2009
Nice to see...
that xenophobia appears to be alive and kicking in the US Senate.
Posted by: Dervheid 26 Jan 2009