Guess which companies are getting the most H-1b visas?

By: relawson
Published On: 3/7/2008 12:34:25 AM

http://www.businessweek.com/ma...

Could it be hospitals trying to place doctors in rural communities?  Nope.

How about drug companies trying to find the cure for cancer?  Nope.

Hmmm.  Is it government researchers seeking an end to global warming?  Three strikes - you're out.  

The sad truth is that, as I have said for years, the top sponsors of H-1b visas are Indian IT offshore outsourcing firms.  Instead of filling jobs that will help America innovate - ie the cancer researcher nearing the cure - it goes mostly to junior level programmers.

What has changed since the last time I posted on this issue is that a pro-business magazine is finally reporting on this crazy policy.  A policy that results in thousands of American software engineers losing their jobs and students pursuing Computer Science degrees find themselves shut out of the occupation.  

To make matters worse, the immigrants who come here on the H-1b find themselves in an indentured servant program and unable to change jobs.  Companies sponsor these workers, and this leverage enables them to pay them lower wages and work them longer hours.  The workers can't quit because if they do, they go to the end of the line for the green card.  

So I was just a bit surprised when a publication that normally supports the corporate line published an article saying exactly what I have been saying.  Please read, and ask your representatives to fix this broken program: http://www.businessweek.com/ma...


Comments



H1-B Problems (Evan M - 3/7/2008 11:25:12 AM)
This issue has been simmering under the surface for a while, the New York Times talked about it on one of their blogs last August.

I have a friend who was a de facto H1B indentured servant for four years, he finally got out from under it, but it cost him tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees. Why this isn't more of an issue in national elections is beyond me. THIS is an immigration issue custom-built for Democrats.



Custom built issue for Democrats (relawson - 3/7/2008 12:12:52 PM)
Democrats have a chance to kill two birds with one stone here.  They can help immigrants get out of the indentured servant program, and they can protect American workers in high tech occupations from competing against low cost exploited labor.  Make it about the best and brightest, not the most easily exploited and lowest cost.

This exploitation and offshoring is why students aren't excited about pursuing Computer Sciences.

I couldn't agree with you more - this issue is a perfect opportunity for Democrats to demonstrate how progressive they are.  It won't be easy to do with the IT lobby begging for the expansion of the program.