US Senators Seek Answers from 10 Major Companies
A group of US Senators has formally questioned 10 major companies, including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Cognizant, regarding the filing of thousands of H-1B skilled worker visa applications following significant layoffs of American employees.
The inquiry coincides with higher unemployment rates in the US tech sector compared to the overall workforce.
Companies Under Scrutiny
In addition to TCS and Cognizant, letters were sent to:
Amazon
Apple
Deloitte
Google
JPMorgan Chase
Meta
Microsoft
Walmart
The Senate Judiciary Committee leadership, including Chairman Charles Grassley and Ranking Member Richard Durbin, are leading the inquiry.
Key Questions Raised
The senators asked the companies to clarify:
Whether American employees were replaced with H-1B workers
Wage differences between H-1B employees and American counterparts
Policies regarding STEM graduate hiring and layoffs
They cited Federal Reserve data showing that recent American STEM graduates face higher unemployment rates than the general public.
Implications
This inquiry highlights growing concerns about:
Impact of H-1B visas on the US workforce
Corporate hiring practices in tech
Wage disparities and labor rights
The outcome could affect future H-1B regulations and corporate compliance standards.
