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Trump’s Next Move on Immigration to Hit Closer to Home for Tech

bloomberg.com

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Re: Trump’s Next Move on Immigration to Hit Closer to Home for Tech

#41

Post by onion2k »

Chris2048 wrote: post #34
onion2k wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If a company can't recruit an immigrant worker on a visa they'll try recruit one of the currently unemployed local developers on the exact same package the immigrant would have been on. That has no impact on wages. If the job required a unique talent that would only have been possible to fill with an exceptionally talented immigrant worker then the job won't be filled, and the company will be consequently less compet…

Why assume a specialized job "won't be filled", but a job were "the exact same package the immigrant would have been on" is offered will? I believe H1B visas are currently used to get workers who accept lower-than-average wages; Hence the same jobs offered to non H1B workers at that level won't be attractive.

H1B visas are generally used for cheap labour. L1 and L2 visas are used for workers with "specialized knowledge" who are necessary because is no local option.

Re: Trump’s Next Move on Immigration to Hit Closer to Home for Tech

#43

Post by throwaway_374 »

yummyfajitas wrote: post #36
ajeet_dhaliwal wrote: post #8

I don't live in the USA currently but I have worked there before on a visa and I think the current system does require some sort of an overhaul. The current way of doing things is great for some companies and for customers who want to save money on IT services but I believe it does undermine wages (for Americans and others) and being on a visa tied to a company just opens up foreign developers to abuse (not the horri…

The current way of doing things is great for some companies and for customers who want to save money on IT services but I believe it does undermine wages (for Americans and others) Why do we care about increasing inequality and increasing costs to consumers by protecting high-wage American workers from foreign competition? and being on a visa tied to a company just opens up foreign developers to abuse I'd love to hea…

" increasing costs to consumers by protecting high-wage American workers from foreign competition?"

Sorry I have to disagree, I am the most vehement loather of Trump and his fan base but fundamentally this just encourages a race to the bottom, does it not?

Re: Trump’s Next Move on Immigration to Hit Closer to Home for Tech

#44

Post by hocuspocus »

paradite wrote: post #33

Interesting. Singapore introduced the exact same policy (hire Singaporeans first) a few years ago. I thought it was well-intentioned even though it would hurt myself as a foreigner. Edit to add source: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/firms-must-show-they-t...

Technically the H-1 visa is already "hire Americans first". This would only change the salary requirement.

Re: Trump’s Next Move on Immigration to Hit Closer to Home for Tech

#45

Post by fergie »

I'm going to stick my neck out here and say that this may not be an altogether bad thing.

From the article: "The foreign work visas were originally established to help U.S. companies recruit from abroad when they couldn’t find qualified local workers. But in recent years, there have been allegations the programs have been abused to bring in cheaper workers from overseas to fill jobs that otherwise may go to Americans. The top recipients of the H-1B visas are outsourcers, primarily from India, who run the technology departments of large corporations with largely imported staff."

Outsourcing has come to be pretty racist, and is exploited by Big Consultancy in order to place a lower price on immigrant labour. That's a bad thing for everybody, not least the immigrants themselves.

When companies like Tata are fulfilling government contracts, they _should_ be filling those positions with local labour at local rates.

Meanwhile companies like Google, Facebook, Apple and MicroSoft should continue to be able to hire the experts they need from all over the world regardless of what passport they hold.

Re: Trump’s Next Move on Immigration to Hit Closer to Home for Tech

#48

Post by paradite »

hocuspocus wrote: post #44
paradite wrote: post #33

Interesting. Singapore introduced the exact same policy (hire Singaporeans first) a few years ago. I thought it was well-intentioned even though it would hurt myself as a foreigner. Edit to add source: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/firms-must-show-they-t...

Technically the H-1 visa is already "hire Americans first". This would only change the salary requirement.

Ah, that is also pretty similar to the policy changes in Singapore:

http://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/2016/0726-upda...

Re: Trump’s Next Move on Immigration to Hit Closer to Home for Tech

#49

Post by rocqua »

As a European soon leaving university, and entering the job market, this makes working in the US more attractive.

Before I'd written it off, as the competition for H1-B visas is fierce. However, with luck this change will be aimed exactly at people like me. This makes the high-wages and innovation of the US look much more appealing.

There remains the downside of US politics in general and labor protection specifically.

Re: Trump’s Next Move on Immigration to Hit Closer to Home for Tech

#50

Post by threeseed »

kyrre wrote: post #10
ggame wrote: post #4

Why would SV clash with Trump on this? This seems like a sensible solution to the problem and one I've seen posted multiple times here on HN.

Good for software developers. Not so much for large companies that want to drive down salaries through indentured servitude (H1B).

No it's not that good for software developers or anyone really.

Many of those hired on H1B are doing roles for which they simply can't get enough local talent. And so all that is going to happen is that companies are going to shift entire projects offshore or simply not take on as many projects.

There does need to be reform. But frankly given the chaotic manner in which the Trump administration is crafting and implementing policy I don't think their approach to reform will be nuanced enough.

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