Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Job brokers steal wages and entrap Indian tech workers in US

theguardian.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

91–100 of 190 posts

Re: Job brokers steal wages and entrap Indian tech workers in US

#91

Post by reduce »

bdevani wrote: post #68
yen223 wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "For fresh grad though, if they quit earlier than 18 months, they have to pay almost a year of their salary, which seems reasonable when there are trainings when they joined the company." Even by Malaysian standards this is just ridiculous. The tech scene in Malaysia is growing - people really shouldn't have to put up with this nonsense.

This is de rigor in India. Keep a job for less than a year, you pay the company. Its the most bizarre thing I've heard. Sure, many companies here will ask for their signing bonus back if you quit early into this job, but this is literally garnishing one's wages.

Bonded labor, as some call it, is still quite alive in many/most countries. Sad that every single employee and manager doesn't refuse to continue the practice. I can see what's making it difficult to fight it in unison in some places.

Re: Job brokers steal wages and entrap Indian tech workers in US

#92

Post by tchalla »

bdevani wrote: post #68
yen223 wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "For fresh grad though, if they quit earlier than 18 months, they have to pay almost a year of their salary, which seems reasonable when there are trainings when they joined the company." Even by Malaysian standards this is just ridiculous. The tech scene in Malaysia is growing - people really shouldn't have to put up with this nonsense.

This is de rigor in India. Keep a job for less than a year, you pay the company. Its the most bizarre thing I've heard. Sure, many companies here will ask for their signing bonus back if you quit early into this job, but this is literally garnishing one's wages.

> This is de rigor in India. Keep a job for less than a year, you pay the company. Its the most bizarre thing I've heard.

Legally, the "bond" you refer to is illegal according to Indian labor law.

Re: Job brokers steal wages and entrap Indian tech workers in US

#93

Post by yid »

yen223 wrote: post #66
fadzlan wrote: post #37

Worked with one big Indian company here in Malaysia last time and I see intimidation as common means of dealing with employees. Unfortunately, it doesn't really work well here, since most of people have a lot of choices moving around. I've been pushed to accept work that has a minimum wage in a different country, despite my experience and the fact I can't possibly survive with my family there. I've had my resume jack…

> "For fresh grad though, if they quit earlier than 18 months, they have to pay almost a year of their salary, which seems reasonable when there are trainings when they joined the company." Even by Malaysian standards this is just ridiculous. The tech scene in Malaysia is growing - people really shouldn't have to put up with this nonsense.

Thats a lovely sentiment. Unfortunately, commoditization of common skills is bound to hit. Things won't be as rosy after.

Re: Job brokers steal wages and entrap Indian tech workers in US

#94

Post by tchalla »

reduce wrote: post #91
bdevani wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is de rigor in India. Keep a job for less than a year, you pay the company. Its the most bizarre thing I've heard. Sure, many companies here will ask for their signing bonus back if you quit early into this job, but this is literally garnishing one's wages.

Bonded labor, as some call it, is still quite alive in many/most countries. Sad that every single employee and manager doesn't refuse to continue the practice. I can see what's making it difficult to fight it in unison in some places.

It is illegal in India too. However, companies use different coercive tactics (like TCS in the article) to ensure pay up. The letter of law states that it is illegal.

Re: Job brokers steal wages and entrap Indian tech workers in US

#96

Post by denzil_correa »

Sven7 wrote: post #78
thewarrior wrote: post #70

I'm working at a company in India and our bond period is upto 3 years long. Imagine that.

What happens if you break it?

The company asks you to pay which you should NOT because it is illegal. The company however can hold you ransom to exit letter etc. which proves that you worked for the company. However, most people do not take that route. There are smart ways to avoid that coercion.

Re: Job brokers steal wages and entrap Indian tech workers in US

#98

Post by hga »

reduce wrote: post #90
fadzlan wrote: post #37

Worked with one big Indian company here in Malaysia last time and I see intimidation as common means of dealing with employees. Unfortunately, it doesn't really work well here, since most of people have a lot of choices moving around. I've been pushed to accept work that has a minimum wage in a different country, despite my experience and the fact I can't possibly survive with my family there. I've had my resume jack…

"For fresh grad though, if they quit earlier than 18 months, they have to pay almost a year of their salary, which seems reasonable when there are trainings when they joined the company." No, that is not ever reasonable anywhere in any situation. May be typical, but not reasonable.

It strikes me as a debatable point, which is what I believe fadzlan is saying. The company gets particularly cheap labor, the fresh grad gets training and real experience they can put on their resume. Plenty of people in the US are willing to work for free (intern) to get the latter.

Re: Job brokers steal wages and entrap Indian tech workers in US

#99

Post by yxhuvud »

HaseebR7 wrote: post #8

WOW, this is scary. I'm from India and thinking of getting my MS in CS next year. I hope i don't end up like this.

You can easily avoid that fate by avoiding USA. Most other countries don't pull that crap. I don't think Canada behave like this, and most or all of northern Europe is also pretty simple (or extremely simple, in some cases) to get into.

Re: Job brokers steal wages and entrap Indian tech workers in US

#100

Post by massmana »

objclxt wrote: post #30
shams93 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Worse than that, it also destroys the local talent pool. Employers use visas as a club against local talent, so you go without equity, work 3 times as many hours as you're paid for and when the company is sold you're out of a job. Not to mention taking "hair cuts" so you work without pay and do without basic necessities to make someone else rich, this shit has ruined my life being a coder in Los Angeles, yes I surviv…

I see no evidence that H-1Bs are destroying the local talent pool in SF. I can't speak to LA myself, but from what I hear it's not doing that either. H-1Bs aren't the reason you've think you've "ruined [your] life being a coder in Los Angeles". Your profile has you down as an Android developer: I met a co-founder based in LA last week who was bemoaning the lack of good mobile app talent. I frequently get hit up from…

It makes IT work low-class. This, I believe is the true reason women don't work in IT.
Post reply on HN