H-1B Visa- “Buy American, Hire American”- a Demeaning Slogan

My article "H-1B Visa- Positive Perspective" evoked a healthy discussion on LinkedIn platform. However, the discussion centred around for and against the US government decision to amend the H-1B visa rules. This approach is good for discussion only but we do not arrive at a solution beneficial to all.

The comments on the article seem to be reacting as though it were some sort of ban on H-1B, which it's not. The intent of H-1B program is  to provide a way to allow companies to hire foreigners with specialized skills that they can’t find in US. The increase of the basic wage reflects this intent. Unfortunately, many companies abused this facility by bringing in foreigners only because they were cheaper, not because they had skills that were unavailable in US. The unfortunate side effect is that US graduates shy away from IT careers because the perception is that the bar set for their wages will be set by the prevailing wage of an average H-1B holder. In the end, the US is losing some of its own best and brightest to other industries.

The haste and the manner, the decisions were taken by President Trump, has given the impression that "America is for Americans & outsiders have no right to stay and enjoy in US as their countries failed to provide them opportunities and that they must be properly noticed and shown the way to their homeland". It must be remembered here that governments can control the rules of the markets, but not the markets themselves. The only thing the US government can do is to move the minimum from $60,000  to $100,000. But the market will absorb this. If companies move operations to India, then they will do it. We live in a global economy and the governments can slow that, but can't stop it.

BUY CHINESE

China has become a manufacturing hub of the world, the reasons may be its population, cheap labor, good infrastructure, work discipline or the communist governess. From morning till we go to bed, we use almost everything made in China- be it our toothbrush, bathing mug, idol of gods, utensils, mobile phone, television, refrigerator and all electronic items. During last Diwali festival a call was given in India to boycott Chinese goods. Forcing a person to buy same quality goods at higher price because it is made indigenous, is nothing but pseudo-nationalism. Whether Chinese goods will be purchased or not in any part of the world, only market will decide based upon the quality, standard and price. The State governments have no right to interfere with the markets. Chinese goods should not become matter of contempt because China has excelled in manufacturing. President Trump's call to "Buy American" is unwarranted as America should not stoop so low as to compete with China in manufacturing of essentials of life.

HIRE INDIAN

India  has become the world's largest supplier of IT  professionals. The reason may be English  language which is taught to almost every child. All IT programming is done in English and hence can be easily communicated to the western world by the Indians. Democracy is another reason where everyone is free to chose his own vocation unlike in China. Lack of job opportunities in India has forced its citizens to chose that vocation where they can earn more money and can also easily adjust with the developed world. IT was the only gap in the  field where they could hit a six and they did. This was only a market play  without any contribution from State government. President Trump's call to "Hire American" is also unwarranted as US stature is so big that it is not meant to compete with India whose status will remain as supplier of professional servants to the world.

RULE AMERICA

Everyone should recognize his own strength and work over it- the same is true for  nations. The population of China is 1.38 billion and that of India is 1.28 b. With a population of 35 million, President Trump should not waste his time and energy in competing with China and India in the areas of manufacturing or finding professionals. The wealth and the infrastructure it has, US is light years ahead of China and India. President Trump should find ways to make every American an entrepreneur under whom rest of the world would work. For US, "Buy American, Hire American"  is a demeaning slogan. Let America think big and let US rule the world.  The global slogan should be “Buy Chinese, Hire Indian, Rule American”. 

Tilak Gulati, Assistant General Manager, UCO Bank, Bhopal

Author:  www.itstrgulati.blogspot.in