Jairam Ramesh criticises Centre after US suspends Indian IT firms from Green Card pro
Jairam Ramesh criticises Centre after US suspends Indian IT firms from Green Card programme
M.U.H
09/10/202635
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh criticised the Indian government on October 9 following the US government’s decision to bar several major Indian IT companies from the Green Card programme, highlighting the impact on Indian IT professionals. He accused the Modi administration of failing to safeguard India’s interests in its dealings with US President Donald Trump.
In a post on X, Ramesh stated, “That appeasement of bullies never pays is once again proven by the US Govt’s actions yesterday, targeted directly against Indian IT professionals. This has come shortly after the Modi Govt went out of its way to please President Trump by imposing UPI MDR charges that will clearly and directly benefit American companies.”
Ramesh further remarked that India had various legal options available, such as under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and its Rules, to respond to the US move. However, he alleged that the government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was unlikely to act, adding, “But a thoroughly compromised PM now under siege on GyaneshGate will not do so.”
Karnataka Minister for IT, Priyank Kharge, also commented on the suspension of the Permanent Labour Certification Programme for major IT outsourcing companies. On X, he noted that the decision could have complex and far-reaching consequences for India, potentially presenting opportunities for the country’s technology sector. Kharge highlighted possible challenges such as increased operating costs in the US, difficulties in retaining skilled employees, and reduced flexibility in deploying Indian professionals on-site.
The National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) issued a statement emphasising that immigration and skilled talent mobility are distinct issues. It noted that the US Department of Labour’s suspension affected a specific immigration pathway while Indian companies have reduced dependence on H-1B visas by expanding local hiring and building strong domestic workforces in the US.
Nasscom stated, “The H-1B visa programme has historically played an important role in addressing short-term skill gaps in the US and it will continue to be used to address short term talent gaps. However, over a number of years, Indian technology companies have significantly reduced their dependence on H-1B visas, while steadily expanding local hiring and building a strong domestic workforce in the U.S.” The organisation also pointed out that Indian firms work with the majority of Fortune 500 companies, contributing to innovation and local job creation. The number of employees transitioning from H-1B visas to permanent residency through the PERM process was relatively limited.
The statement added that Indian technology companies operate in over 80 countries and remain committed to complying with local laws and regulatory requirements, expressing confidence they will continue to do so in the US.
US Labour Secretary Keith Sonderling announced the suspension of some of the world’s largest IT outsourcing companies—including Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL, and Capgemini—from the Permanent Labour Certification Programme. The suspension also included US technology companies Microsoft and Adobe. Sonderling stated that the suspensions stemmed from multiple active federal investigations.
“We will not accept any new or process any pending permanent labor certification applications involving these companies,” said Sonderling. He added that since 2009, these companies had collectively requested nearly three million foreign workers, obtaining over 230,000 H-1B visa approvals and more than 100,000 permanent labour certifications, which he said represented jobs taken from American workers.
This announcement followed the US Department of Homeland Security’s proposal of new fees for F-1 non-immigrant students participating in Optional Practical Training, described as an effort to protect American workers and reinforce immigration system integrity.
