Well folks, the drama continues about New Jersey-based Vision Systems Group. Could it be that a can of worms has been opened in the H-1B world? Let's take a closer look at the Federal case being pursued. This is today's URL reference:
http://blogs.eweek.com/careers/content001/h-1b_foreign_workers/h1-b_visas_and_unemployment_a_federal_case.html
Here's the significant question asked in this new bit of news:
"The U.S. government, at least the part that is fighting H-1B visa fraud, is looking to prove a point about the program: that fraud in H-1B visa program and the number of visa holders in U.S. tech jobs are putting current struggling American technology workers out of work."
Given the "hand in the H-1B cookie jar" that I mentioned in my last posting, the spotlight now is captured in this final quote from today's referenced article:
"The problem is that while there appears to be a strong case for fraud and abuse relating to the visa program, it is harder to substantiate the full impact on American workers and all the layoffs and unemployment occurring. The two are not dependent on each other. Layoffs would be happening regardless of whether there was an H-1B visa program or not."
As always, I don't forget the "greed virus" negative effect on business ethics and moral values. As always, I now ask for your comments out there. Cheers !
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
US: H-1B workers outnumber unemployed techies
Hello to everyone in cyberland! You're here because, at some level, you're curious about this blog's theme that outsourcing American jobs is a manifestation of the "greed virus". Now we have some more fire to heat the flames of frustration as a company called Vision Systems Group" was caught with its hand in the H1B cookie jar referenced by a May 26, 2009 Computerworld article at:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9133529&source=rss_news
Note: * Vision Systems Group in South Plainfield, NJ URL found at http://www.vsginc.com/ "
===========================
** Here's a bit of that Computerworld article quote that caught my attention:
"Vision Systems was included in a sweep that led to arrests of some 11 people in six states. The government, in announcing its action, said the companies and people involved were "displacing qualified American workers," but didn't identify how many. In court papers filed last month, the U.S. indicated it may be getting ready to do just that. The U.S. said it is "prepared to demonstrate to the court the manner in which the defendant's schemes, along with similar schemes by similar companies have substantially deprived U.S. citizens of employment." The government then points out that "in January of 2009, the total number of workers employed in the information technology occupation under the H-1B program substantially exceeded the 241,000 unemployed U.S. citizen workers within the same occupation."
=======================
There is mention of "similar companies" in this quote and makes me wonder how many others are on the H1B gravy train?
The article continues to provide another troubling factoid to "digest" as follows:
"In the case of Vision Systems, the U.S. said the company "consistently hired only foreign workers in order to fill information technology positions within the United States." The government said "although the exact amount of loss to U.S. citizen workers has not yet been determined, there is no question that the amount of lost wages and benefits to U.S. citizens has been substantial"
Given our current economic crisis ( both state and federal ) wouldn't it be nice for this country to have Americans spending those paychecks rather than non citizens? Ok...nuff said ... any opinions out there about this latest bit of news?
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9133529&source=rss_news
Note: * Vision Systems Group in South Plainfield, NJ URL found at http://www.vsginc.com/ "
===========================
** Here's a bit of that Computerworld article quote that caught my attention:
"Vision Systems was included in a sweep that led to arrests of some 11 people in six states. The government, in announcing its action, said the companies and people involved were "displacing qualified American workers," but didn't identify how many. In court papers filed last month, the U.S. indicated it may be getting ready to do just that. The U.S. said it is "prepared to demonstrate to the court the manner in which the defendant's schemes, along with similar schemes by similar companies have substantially deprived U.S. citizens of employment." The government then points out that "in January of 2009, the total number of workers employed in the information technology occupation under the H-1B program substantially exceeded the 241,000 unemployed U.S. citizen workers within the same occupation."
=======================
There is mention of "similar companies" in this quote and makes me wonder how many others are on the H1B gravy train?
The article continues to provide another troubling factoid to "digest" as follows:
"In the case of Vision Systems, the U.S. said the company "consistently hired only foreign workers in order to fill information technology positions within the United States." The government said "although the exact amount of loss to U.S. citizen workers has not yet been determined, there is no question that the amount of lost wages and benefits to U.S. citizens has been substantial"
Given our current economic crisis ( both state and federal ) wouldn't it be nice for this country to have Americans spending those paychecks rather than non citizens? Ok...nuff said ... any opinions out there about this latest bit of news?
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Infy cuts H1-B visas to reduce overseas bench
Ref: http://www.bpowatchindia.com/bpo_news/infosysh1-b/may-23-2009/infy_cuts_h1-b_visas.html
" Infosys Technologies – which holds the largest number of H1-B visas among all the Indian IT services companies – has started reducing its ‘overseas bench’ strength.to the latest update from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, as against an available upper cap of 65,000 as mandated by the US Congress, to only about 45,000 H1-B visa applications received as of May 19 this year. Other than the global recession, experts say the fact that each H1-B visa costs about $3,000-5,000 per applicant is reason enough for companies not to invest so much on obtaining such visas."
============================
Well readers, it seems that "The times they are a changing" as the reality of the need to restructure old concepts about corporate America's "addiction to profit at any cost" sinks in. The wakeup call is simply stated, if people don't have jobs they don't buy things, they can't plan for a future by savings and investments, education, quality of life, and the infrastructure of states like California begin to collapse in economic chaos. A rather interesting quote from the referenced article above provides a final touch of irony as the India outsource companies struggle to survive:
============================
" Of late, most India companies have increased their uptake of local talent in the US. Wipro has already announced its intention to hire over 750 US workers for its newly opened centre in Atlanta. IT major TCS is also focussing on more US citizens in its workforce, according the company’s COO N Chandrasekharan. “It’s important to create critical mass and have a local delivery capability to service onsite clients. If we do this from India, it will be quite costly.”
============================-
It looks like the old saying "The squeaky wheel is the one that gets the oil" is coming true. However, now India companies want to HIRE Americans ... but wait ..... The money STILL goes to India if the bossman is from India ! Why not promote a national movement to help USA companies to hire Americans ? Then the money will STAY in America. Given that concept, I say "MADE IN AMERICA" should also apply to American company jobs .... President Obama has stated that he wants to give tax breaks for companies that hire Americans ... I say that we make sure that the tax breaks go to American companies and NOT non American companies.....what do you say?
" Infosys Technologies – which holds the largest number of H1-B visas among all the Indian IT services companies – has started reducing its ‘overseas bench’ strength.to the latest update from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, as against an available upper cap of 65,000 as mandated by the US Congress, to only about 45,000 H1-B visa applications received as of May 19 this year. Other than the global recession, experts say the fact that each H1-B visa costs about $3,000-5,000 per applicant is reason enough for companies not to invest so much on obtaining such visas."
============================
Well readers, it seems that "The times they are a changing" as the reality of the need to restructure old concepts about corporate America's "addiction to profit at any cost" sinks in. The wakeup call is simply stated, if people don't have jobs they don't buy things, they can't plan for a future by savings and investments, education, quality of life, and the infrastructure of states like California begin to collapse in economic chaos. A rather interesting quote from the referenced article above provides a final touch of irony as the India outsource companies struggle to survive:
============================
" Of late, most India companies have increased their uptake of local talent in the US. Wipro has already announced its intention to hire over 750 US workers for its newly opened centre in Atlanta. IT major TCS is also focussing on more US citizens in its workforce, according the company’s COO N Chandrasekharan. “It’s important to create critical mass and have a local delivery capability to service onsite clients. If we do this from India, it will be quite costly.”
============================-
It looks like the old saying "The squeaky wheel is the one that gets the oil" is coming true. However, now India companies want to HIRE Americans ... but wait ..... The money STILL goes to India if the bossman is from India ! Why not promote a national movement to help USA companies to hire Americans ? Then the money will STAY in America. Given that concept, I say "MADE IN AMERICA" should also apply to American company jobs .... President Obama has stated that he wants to give tax breaks for companies that hire Americans ... I say that we make sure that the tax breaks go to American companies and NOT non American companies.....what do you say?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)