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40 The Indian Eye | Business EYE | JUNE 12, 2020
indian it firms may face problems if trump
blocks h-1b and other work visas in us
nAssCom asks us to exempt tech firms from the reported move
Our BureAu categories of ICT workers as
essential service, should help
New Delhi define the types of essential
S President Donald workers,” it said.
Trump is considering Nasscom stated that demand
Ususpending a number for high-tech skills remains
of employment visas including strong among employers in the
the H-1B, most sought-after US labour market, even amidst
among Indian IT profession- the current COVID-19 crisis.
als, in view of the massive un- Also, in the 30-day period
employment in America due to ending May 13, 2020, there
the coronavirus pandemic, ac- were over 6,25,000 active job
cording to a media report. The vacancy postings advertised
proposed suspension could online for jobs in common
extend into the government’s financial daily reported. ployment in America due to computer occupations, includ-
new fiscal year beginning Oc- Meanwhile, the US Cham- the COVID-19 pandemic. ing those most common to
tober 1, when many new visas bers of Commerce CEO Nasscom said as businesses H-1B visa holders, Nasscom
are issued, The Wall Street Thomas Donohue on Thurs- reopen, it is important for the said citing analysis of Bureau
Journal reported on Thursday, day wrote a letter to Trump, US to access talent critical to of Labour Statistics’ Current
quoting unnamed administra- expressing concern over his the recovery phase, and Amer- Population Survey by the Na-
tion officials. reported move on temporary ican enterprises need access to tional Foundation for Ameri-
work visas. As the economy re- essential technology workers can Policy.
that could bar any new bounds, American businesses who are keeping critical infra-
structure operating.
will need assurances that they
h-1B holder outside the can meet all their workforce “These include healthcare, “the data raises signif-
country from coming to needs. To that end, it is crucial hospitals and online services icant questions about
and playing key roles to devel-
that they have access to talent
work until the suspension both domestically and from op treatments for this disease using the argument of
is lifted, though visa hold- around the world, Donohue -- to name a few vital services. unemployment rate for
wrote in a letter to Trump.
Highly skilled workers on
ers already in the country According to The Hill non-immigrant visas (NIVs) computer professionals
are unlikely to be affected, newspaper, Donohue said that such as H-1Bs and L-1s, are to justify the new restric-
playing critical roles in the de-
American businesses need L-1
the daily reported. visa holders, who have a work livery of these services and the tions on h-1B visa holders
visa valid for a relatively short development of these prod- and international students
Such a decision by the amount of time, for necessary ucts,” Nasscom said in a state- working on optional prac-
Trump administration is likely expertise. ment.
to have an adverse impact on On Friday, IT industry body It added that without their tical training (opt),” it
thousands of Indian IT profes- Nasscom sought exemption for continued contributions, “the said.
sionals. Already a large num- technology workers from re- economic pain would worsen,
ber of Indians on the H-1B vi- strictions that may be imposed industry would slow, and the
sas have lost their jobs and are in the US, saying such staff is timeline for a treatment and The industry body said
headed back home during the playing an essential role in cure could lengthen”. non-immigrant visa pro-
coronavirus pandemic. keeping critical infrastructure “Given this, we seek exemp- grammes like the H1-B and
In addition to the H-1B vi- operating in America. The tion for technology workers as L-1 enable the US business-
sas, the suspension could apply statement comes amid reports essential workers, from any re- es to bridge the STEM skills
to the H-2B visa for short-term that the US is considering sus- strictions that may be imposed deficit and access skilled tech
seasonal workers, the J-1 visa pension of a number of employ- in a second White House Proc- workforce not available local-
for short-term workers includ- ment visas including the H-1B lamation. Priorities established ly, thereby ensuring they can
ing camp counselors and au - which is much sought-after by DHS’ CISA (Cybersecurity deliver on projects that keep
pairs and the L-1 visa for in- among Indian IT professionals and Infrastructure Security them on the leading-edge of
ternal company transfers, the - in view of the massive unem- Agency) that designates key global competitiveness.
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