New organization www.HireAmericansFirst.org is gearing up to oppose Industry efforts to increase the H-1b visa cap in 2008, and to educate Congress on the harm caused by the H-1b program. Please join us.
Currently 85,000 top tech jobs each year are reserved by DOL to be filled by foreign workers on H-1b visas. Many others are filled by L-1 visas, which allows employers to bring in foreign workers while still paying them their foreign wage. In neither case are employers obligated to first consider qualified American tech workers.
These workers are often paid 25% below market and therefore are hired for contract positions over the top of qualified American applicants.
In 2008 Industry will be lobbying to increase the annual H-1b cap from 85,000 to as high as 195,000.
Officials with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said Tuesday that there is no chance for a major immigration re-haul bill in Congress this year, but that they hope to get increases in certain visa categories including the H-1B visa for highly educated foreign workers - Chamber of Commerce: no large immigration bill, but hopeful on visa increases - January 8, 2008.
If have been harmed by H-1b workers - or support reform of the H-1b program - please take 5 minutes to join new organization www.HireAmericansFirst.org.
There is no membership fee.
Many members have indicated that they will speak to the media or join as plaintiffs in Programmers Guild class action suits - thus sharing in damage awards.
More information on the Hire Americans First project is in the Programmers Guild newsletter.
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