Economic Crunch Eyes H-1B Holders

the dominoes continue to fumble and this time the biggest economic crunch in recent years has it’s eyes on foreign workers in the u.s. – specifically those carrying h-1b visas.

Charles Cooper of CNET news reported:
“My point is that during a layoff, companies should not be retaining H-1B or other work visa program employees over qualified American workers,” Grassley wrote on Friday after Microsoft announced its first across-the-board layoffs. “Our immigration policy is not intended to harm the American work force. I encourage Microsoft to ensure that Americans are given priority in job retention. Microsoft has a moral obligation to protect these American workers by putting them first during these difficult economic times.”


i once was an h-1b visa holder and from what i know, americans should have been prioritized, if however the companies couldn’t find people suited for the job, that’s when they opt to bring in foreigners via working visas. we can’t blame these companies to hire outside for cheaper labor, nor can we blame qualified foreigners to try their luck in the u.s. for higher pay..

it’s all about business and survival…

it’s h-1b season again and i don’t know the exact number of IT PINOY h-1b visa holders that might be affected by this news. what i do know is that i have a friend who is now packing up to go home… it’s okay dude, IT PINOYs are survivors!

8 Comments

  1. Anonymous

    More proof that there never was an I.T. labor shortage.The H-1B program should be halted. The meltdown in the economy isa direct result of the job displacement of U.S. workers with cheap foreign H-1B workers.H-1B workers are ordinary workers doing ordinary work. There is no requirement to look for American workers, in fact, American workers can be replaced en-masse with H-1B workers.http://www.dol.gov/_sec/stratplan/strat_plan_2006-2011.pdfU.S. Department of Labor STRATEGIC PLAN Fiscal Years 2006-2011 pg. 35) states:”… H-1B workers may be hired even when a qualified U.S. worker wants the job, and a U.S. worker can be displaced from the job in favor of the foreign worker.”

  2. Anonymous

    If this is the case, it's high time the US review their policies on sponsoring foreign workers.. However, halting H-1B is not the answer, as in the case for nurses and caregivers are still pretty much in demand. Americans might admit this or not, but not all of them are willing to take care for their old folks – this opens up opportunities to foreigners like Filipinos to take the job for a higher pay compared to what their getting in the P.I.

  3. Anonymous

    More proof that there never was an I.T. labor shortage.The H-1B program should be halted. The meltdown in the economy isa direct result of the job displacement of U.S. workers with cheap foreign H-1B workers.H-1B workers are ordinary workers doing ordinary work. There is no requirement to look for American workers, in fact, American workers can be replaced en-masse with H-1B workers.http://www.dol.gov/_sec/stratplan/strat_plan_2006-2011.pdfU.S. Department of Labor STRATEGIC PLAN Fiscal Years 2006-2011 pg. 35) states:”… H-1B workers may be hired even when a qualified U.S. worker wants the job, and a U.S. worker can be displaced from the job in favor of the foreign worker.”

  4. Anonymous

    If this is the case, it’s high time the US review their policies on sponsoring foreign workers.. However, halting H-1B is not the answer, as in the case for nurses and caregivers are still pretty much in demand. Americans might admit this or not, but not all of them are willing to take care for their old folks – this opens up opportunities to foreigners like Filipinos to take the job for a higher pay compared to what their getting in the P.I.

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