For years, the US visa program designed for skilled foreign workers has sparked fears among American workers about losing their jobs to foreign counterparts who may accept lower wages. Recently, a cohort of seasoned American professionals reportedly levelled accusations against Indian IT behemoth, Tata Consultancy Services, alleging sudden terminations and subsequent replacement of many positions with workers from India holding H1-B visas.
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Since late December, a minimum of 22 workers have lodged complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against TCS. The company’s clientele reportedly encompasses numerous major firms in the United States, as per a report by the Wall Street Journal.
Allegations Against TCS
On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that American workers accused TCS of engaging in illegal discrimination based on race and age. Allegations included terminating their employment and reallocating some of their duties to lower-paid Indian immigrants holding temporary work visas.
The former TCS employees from the United States encompass Caucasians, Asian-Americans, and Hispanic Americans, spanning in age from their 40s to their 60s, and residing in over a dozen states across the country, as reported. According to the reviewed complaints, a significant number hold master’s degrees in business administration or other advanced qualifications.
What TCS Said?
As per the report, a spokesperson for TCS informed the Journal that allegations of the company participating in unlawful discrimination are baseless and deceptive. The spokesperson emphasised that TCS maintains a robust track record of being an equal opportunity employer in the United States and conducts its operations with integrity, as quoted.
H-1B Visa Debate Revival
According to the Journal, the complaints raise concerns once again about the utilisation of H-1B visas by Indian IT companies.
The report noted that numerous prominent US tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and Meta, with distinct business models from outsourcing firms, utilise H-1B visas to hire high-wage employees. These companies have faced comparatively less criticism in this regard.
Congress annually authorises approximately 85,000 new H-1B visas, a figure that is frequently surpassed by the number of applications received.
Former TCS employees, as cited by The Journal, claimed that despite receiving positive reviews and occasional bonuses for their work with clients in sectors like finance, operations, and supply-chain management over the years, they were suddenly removed from projects last year.
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