IT industry body Nasscom plans to mobilise support against certain proposals in the new US Immigration Bill that can affect Indian IT companies.
“We will talk with partners and some industry bodies that have a stake in this. Even the Government is concerned. We will discuss the issues with them to build support against such proposals,” Ameet Nivsarkar, Vice-President (Global Trade Development) of the National Association of Software and Services Companies, told Business Line .
“I haven’t seen the language (the tone of the Bill). But reports suggest that there could be discriminatory changes in visa issuance that could adversely impact Indian IT companies,” he said.
Positive side
On the positive side, the Bill recognises the shortage of skilled workforce in the US. The proposal to increase the number of Green Cards and visas reflects this, he said.
The US-India Business Council, which represents top American companies investing in India and global Indian firms, too has expressed concern over the new immigration proposals.
“Our greatest concern centres on proposals that would preclude access to visas or impose unworkable visa-related restrictions and fees on a company’s ability to sponsor H-1B and L-1 visas based upon their business model or the composition of its local workforce,” Ron Somers, president of the Council, said.
In a letter to the Senators who proposed the Bill, he has asked them not to include provisions that could discriminate against a set of companies on the proposed 50:50 model (those applicants who have 50 or more workers and 50 per cent of those workers are on H-1B and L visas).
Global firms
The proposed restrictions would particularly hit global IT services companies headquartered in India and which are in fact enabling US companies remain competitive.
Such restrictions could impact US innovation, reducing local job creation, and, worse, forcing companies to move projects offshore.