The Trump administration in the United States recently announced a suspension of the labor certification procedures required by companies such as Microsoft and Adobe for foreign employees to apply for green cards for professional immigration, which has caused dissatisfaction in India.
According to Reuters, the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on October 9 that the US actions do not contribute to achieving the common goals of India and the US, and emphasized that the flow of talents is of great benefit to both countries.
On October 8th, local time, the US government announced that it would suspend participation in a key green card program – the “Permanent Labor Certification” (PERM) – for companies like Microsoft. US Labor Secretary Thomas Sunderlin stated: “We will not accept new applications for permanent labor certification from these companies, nor will we process any pending applications.”
American Vice President Viscer criticized Microsoft specifically, saying, "Unfortunately, in the United States, no company has abused this system more than Microsoft." He stated that the company will lay off 6,000 local American employees in 2025 and replace them with people holding H-1B temporary work visas.
Wanzer also referred to foreign workers who enter the country with H-1B visas as “foreign indentured servants”, and accused American companies of using these employees to lower wages and replace local labor.
《Today's India》 notes that "indentured labor" historically referred to individuals bound by contracts, subjected to strict limitations on their freedom, and facing exploitation. This term holds a special historical significance in India. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Indians were sent to plantations in British colonial territories such as Mauritius, Fiji, Caribbean islands, and South Africa.
India is one of the main sources of foreign technical talent for the United States. Among the eight companies affected, several are large Indian IT services and outsourcing companies, including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, and Wipro. The American measures and Vance's remarks have drawn attention and dissatisfaction from the Indian side.
The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on the 9th that the measures announced by the United States are not conducive to achieving the common goals of both countries. Talent flow 'has great mutual benefit for both countries, and we hope that all stakeholders involved in this process will recognize this fact.'
"We also noted that the Vice President of the United States made some comments on this matter. We believe these statements are baseless and ignore the fact that Indian professionals in the US have higher education and excellent skills, and they contribute to the American economy and its innovative ecosystem."
"Using language with a painful history of memories and a colonial legacy is highly offensive."
