Are Foreign Workers Exempt From Layoffs?

The recent news about massive layoffs, particularly at technology companies, reminded me of a related topic in the news last year: increased numbers of H-1B visas for foreign engineers and scientists.

Executives of major technology companies, most notably Intel, Cisco and Lucent, lobbied Congress relentlessly in order to substantially increase the number of H-1B visas for these workers.

These executives argued that the American high-tech industry absolutely needed these additional foreign workers to stay “competitive,” and that American workers could not be found to fill numerous open positions.

Those opposed to increases argued these companies were merely seeking cheaper labor and a way of keeping salaries of engineers and scientists low.

Naturally, the executives won with substantial and well-placed campaign contributions, and the cap on H-1B visas was increased significantly.

Now, only a few months later, huge layoffs in these companies are the order of the day. Is anyone talking about whether the cheaper H-1B workers are being retained while citizens are being let go?

Peter Broussinos

Hermosa Beach