Tech Startups Say New Pay Rules for H-1B Visas Are Unaffordable • Hacker News Board

Re: Tech Startups Say New Pay Rules for H-1B Visas Are Unaffordable

#11

Post by naveen99 » Mon, Nov 02, 2020, 1:40 AM UTC

mensetmanusman wrote: post #4

This reminds me of the minimum wage dispute. Society steps in to bargain for workers if it believes the typical worker’s decision making is actually harming society. E.g. taking 7$/hr jobs without benefits depresses wages of local workers, etc.

Maybe we should give college students a minimum wage in addition to free tuition instead of non dischargeable loans also.

Also we should ban paying for coaching. Students should get minimum wage and shouldn’t have to pay a tennis coach if they want to win championships even if they are Federer.

Re: Tech Startups Say New Pay Rules for H-1B Visas Are Unaffordable

#12

Post by waste_monk » Mon, Nov 02, 2020, 2:15 AM UTC

pmiller2 wrote: post #3

$208k minimum salary does seem a little steep in order to justify hiring a foreign worker over an American. But, at least I like that startups are saying "it's too expensive" rather than "there's a talent shortage!" There's never been a "talent shortage." There's been a lack of incentive for said talent to join tech companies. Money is an easy way to make up for said lack of incentive, but companies don't want to ope…

>$208k minimum salary does seem a little steep in order to justify hiring a foreign worker over an American

I thought the idea was that it's for foreign workers who are so rare or specialised that you simply cannot get a local to do the same job. It's hard for outsiders to a given industry to evaluate whether someone is exceptional enough to grant a visa, so the salary is an indirect measurement - if they can command that sort of money then they're probably rare enough that it's a legitimate request for the H-1B.

Re: Tech Startups Say New Pay Rules for H-1B Visas Are Unaffordable

#13

Post by Proven » Mon, Nov 02, 2020, 3:25 AM UTC

nradov wrote: post #10

mensetmanusman wrote: post #4

This reminds me of the minimum wage dispute. Society steps in to bargain for workers if it believes the typical worker’s decision making is actually harming society. E.g. taking 7$/hr jobs without benefits depresses wages of local workers, etc.

The minimum wage makes it impossible for employers to hire people at the bottom end of the productivity scale. It makes no sense to hire someone who only produces $10/hr of value if you have to pay them $15/hr. This makes it harder for people with little experience or training to find any job at all. A better solution would be to eliminate the minimum wage and make up the difference with income redistribution, such a…

Why would a better solution require income redistribution?

If someone produces $10/hr, why should they make $15/hr?

Re: Tech Startups Say New Pay Rules for H-1B Visas Are Unaffordable

#14

Post by mkrishnan » Sun, Nov 08, 2020, 2:54 AM UTC

Here is the requirement from gov website for H1B

"The H-1B program applies to employers seeking to hire nonimmigrant aliens as workers in specialty occupations or as fashion models of distinguished merit and ability."

For companies looking for extraordinary talent, this rule boon.

Companies tring to hire cheap labour will have difficult time facing the new rule.