As the campaign for the US presidential elections gathers momentum, the Indian Government is concerned that outsourcing of jobs to India could be raised again by political parties.

In 2004, John Kerry’s campaign had questioned the issue of Americans losing out on jobs to highly skilled NRI workers. Representatives of both the Democrat and Republican parties, Richard Durbin and Charles Grassley respectively have created quite a stir lately by questioning Indian companies for details of their employees.

Their concern is that these companies are inducting more Indian workers through the H-1B visa programme. Indian diplomats and lobbyists in the US are seeking to play down the issue of outsourcing with the contesting presidential candidates.

The H-1B visa was started in 1990 to address the dearth of highly qualified research scientists, engineers and technologists in the American economy. These professionals could be employed for 6 years, after which they could choose between a permanent residence in the US or return home.

The senators feel the H1B visa is being abused to that extent, and does not meet the objectives of the programme. This year, 65,000 H-1B visas have been cleared by the US Department, and India is hopeful that another 1, 30,000 would be approved.

India has formally applied to the World Trade Organisation to this effect. Durbin and Grassley have recommended through legislation an overhaul of the H1-B and L-1 visa laws to curtail jobs to foreign workers. High skilled jobs would be given on priority to American professionals.

Companies who have been issued queries are Patni Computer Systems, iflex Solutions, Satyam Computers, Larsen & Toubro Infotech Ltd., Tech Mahindra, Mphasis Corp., Wipro, Infosys and TCS.

India’s IT industry association NASSCOM has suggested that issues of immigration should not to be confused with trade, Work permits like the H-1B visa is a tool for facilitating trade, allowing qualified personnel to work in the US on temporary assignments.

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