For every H-1B visa, US tech companies hire 5 workers: NASDAQ

Washington, July 29 (PTI) Refuting the allegations of US
lawmakers and certain quarters here that H-1B visas take away
jobs from Americans, NASDAQ's chief has claimed that studies
show that for every H-1B visa, technology companies increase
employment by five workers.
"Let me take the job stealing issue head-on," NASDAQ CEO
Robert Griefeld told Senators at a Congressional hearing on
immigration reform early this week.
"Opponents of enhanced legal immigration argue that when
a foreign-born, highly skilled immigrant gets a job, American
graduates are the losers," he said.
"But my research and experience tell me quite a different
story. For example, the National Federation for American
Policy says that for every H-1B worker requested, US
technology companies increase their overall employment by five
workers," Griefeld said.
The NASDAQ CEO argued there was a case to enact a more
flexible and stable regime for legal immigration.
"Reform must convey economic priorities about job growth
and global competitiveness. Increasing H-1B visas is simply
not enough. We need to admit and keep entrepreneurs here so
that the creative dynamic of our economy is enhanced by the
very best skills and minds," he said.
"Whether in Silicon Valley, Austin, Chicago, or anywhere
else in the United States, I hear from CEOs that the H-1B visa
system is inadequate for today's human capital marketplace and
the backlog for green cards and what they mean to the quality
and the uncertainty of the lives of these foreign-born
employees is a legitimate threat to their businesses," he
said.
"Many companies can, if needed, locate people in Canada,
Europe, India or any country that wants those jobs and the
benefits they bring," he said.
Puneet Arora, the Vice-President of Immigration Voice,
told lawmakers that frustration with the US immigration system
sent Wharton graduate Kunal Bahl back home in 2007 where he
went and founded SnapDeal.com.
This is a rapidly growing company with over USD 20
million in annual revenue, over 400 workers and growing at the
rate of 70 workers a month.
This, India's equivalent of Groupon, has major US venture
capitalists like Vinod Dham, the father of the Intel chip,
investing significantly in it.
"Reports from India and China suggest that this is not an
isolated example. This is a growing trend. We often hear
concerns that foreign-born workers are taking jobs and
stalling the economic recovery," Arora said.
Ronil Hira, Associate Professor of Public Policy,
Rochester Institute of Technology said to meet the needs of
both the US economy and American workers, the H-1B and L-1
visa programmes need immediate and substantial overhaul.
"The goal of these programmes is to bring in foreign
workers who complement the American workforce. Instead,
loopholes have made it too easy to bring in cheaper foreign
workers, with ordinary skills -- these are not specialised
skills, these are not the best and brightest, these are
ordinary skills -- who directly substitute for, rather than
complement, American workers," he noted.
"The programmes are clearly displacing and denying
opportunities to American workers. The H-1B and L-1 programmes
have serious design flaws and legislation is needed to fix
them. Administrative changes alone such as stepped up
enforcement, while necessary, are simply not sufficient to
correct the problems," Hira said. PTI LKJ ARV
HMI