CNBC airs debate - lay off H1Bs first?
This is turning out to be more and more of a heated debate. I am hearing about this from friends and co-workers and of course, being an immigrant, only my closest friends actually reveal their real opinions to me. One of my co-worker friends, an American, thinks it’s a no-brainer that H1Bs should be laid off first. He says “They were hired here because there weren’t enough Americans to fill that post. Now that there are all these American workers in the market as a result of lay-offs across the board, there should be no need to hire any more H1Bs”. Seems to make sense, huh? Well, think about it. Is that really true?
The point is that hiring or firing decisions for any business-minded company should be based ONLY AND ONLY on merit. NOTHING else. That’s the whole point of a free economy. That’s the whole point about America - and the idea of freedom. “Protectionism” is a very misleading term. Americans that hear this word get the feeling of safety and security - as if someone’s working to keep them from the harm that immigrants can bring. WRONG. It’s the exact opposite. When companies start laying people off based on their nationality and not merit, companies will fail and more jobs will be lost. H1B is a visa without immigrant intent, agreed. But the reality is that there is also the opportunity to apply for permanent residency and several ways to extend a person’s H1B tenure. All these rules were created because no company would really be stupid enough to train and use somebody for six years and then when they are super productive, lay them off just because their visa expired. I don’t know the numbers, but 90% H1B visa holders think of their stay in the US as indefinite. Given that fact, they really are like American people from the viewpoint of the economy. They pay their taxes, they contribute to the economy. In fact, a majority of the startups are founded by immigrants. They have often seen tougher times and appreciate the value of the opportunity that America brings to them, compared to Americans that often take it for granted. I am glad 5 of the 6 people on CNBC agreed.
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March 19th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
just pasting a reply i sent to a friend when he fwd’ed this vid,
1999
america: “hey, we need lot of u, there is some y2k bug or something which we really dont understand”
india: “yes, yes - we understand all that stuff”
america: “great. we are tripling the visa quota”
india: “we love you”
2001
america:”sorry we just had a bust and then 9-11 thing happened, so we are reducing quota to 1/3rd”
india:”you guys are totally assholes”
2005
america:”ok, looks like our economy is improving. we are planning to introduce a special h1 quota for masters students”
india:”we love you again. sorry abt what i said earlier”
2009
america:”sorry, we have send your folks back, because we are suffering purselves”
india:”you guys are totally assholes”
and the story repeats …
May 22nd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I disagree. An American cannot work in India. An Indian can work in India. H1-Bs should be the first to go as Americans always have right to that job over any foreigner. Its ingrained in our laws. I believe America should become a little more protectionist and ultimately eliminate all H1-Bs for the year 2009 till 2013.
June 8th, 2009 at 7:09 am
Despite having been in that situation as an H1B worker, I agree that H1B workers should be let go first.
The H1B program is quite simple. It is to allow in foreign workers for which there is no qualified US worker to fill the job.
If the employer has to choose between firing a qualified US worker and a qualified H1B worker, it’s obvious which one should go.
Clearly if the foreigner is on another program that is not based on the need for temporary workers, it should not factor into the decision.
What parts of “non-immigrant” and “temporary” were unclear to you in your H1B application?
I know, you had a hope of later changing into an immigrant category. Somewhere along the way you seem to have converted that hope into a right.
June 8th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Immigrant,
I see your point and see how it’s very valid. I don’t disagree that the H1-B program is for temporary workers and from that angle, citizens should get priority.
My point is that it is unrealistic and inefficient to implement that in the real world. Rarely if ever, will you ever find a position that needs to be done away with which has both an American and an immigrant in the same role, both equally qualified and competent. My point is only that the person that is more valuable to the company should stay, period. That is the only way for a company, and the country, in turn, to progress in this globally competitive economy.
December 3rd, 2009 at 7:41 am
Any information on your sources though?
February 10th, 2010 at 11:36 am
Though I’m an immigrant myself, I too agree that, the H1Bs should let go when it comes to laying off, IF AND ONLY IF, the company finds a suitable replacement by a citizen who accepts that position. If the position can’t be filled an American citizen, laying off the immigrant for political reasons is ABSURD. It’ll cost the company money, if it works on a tight schedule.
Even in our company, my boss is completely satisfied that he can’t find any guys locally to the position that I’m working in. As a matter of fact, after advertising thru’ 3 of the vendors, our company could find only another immigrant from CA to fill in a position in our east coast office.
So, there’re obviously certain positions for which finding citizens to fill in will be too difficult. Hiring managers won’t be stupid enough to hire a foreign nationals despite the cultural and language barriers. Understand that first.
Thanks
Muthu
November 27th, 2010 at 10:02 am
Very high number of Indian I/T and software eng’g managers hire 100% to no lower than 75% of Indians. Isn’t that outright discrimination. THAT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL!!! Why are white managers prohibited to have all whites in his dept because of the equal opportunity law?
Most H1 visa holders charged rates are HIGHER OR EQUALLY the same as those immigrants and US citizens so gimme a break. They are not cheap because Indian Managers hire an army of H1 visa holders that local workers can do with the same budget but less overhead. I think there is a something fishy going on with these sprouting of Indian job agencies. I have a feeling that those Indian I/T managers are getting a cut from the job agencies if they hire these H1 visa holders. They charge high rate but only pay half to H1 visa holders.
BTW, I’m a naturalized US citizen. My brother who was manager at a big high tech company in Silicon Valley has White, Chinese, Vietnamese and Hispanic engineers in his group.