India on Friday criticised the United States’ decision to suspend eight major technology companies from its Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme, warning that the move ‘undermines the shared ambitions’ of the two countries, while strongly objecting to US Vice President JD Vance’s description of H-1B visa workers as “indentured servants”.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the suspension of PERM applications would not, by itself, affect the validity of existing H-1B visas or the status of visa holders and their dependents. The suspension of PERM applications does not, by itself, affect the validity of existing H-1B visas or the status of H-1B visa holders and their dependents, though there could be some impact on the permanent-residency/Green Card process of eligible employees of the affected companies,” the ministry said. “The steps announced by the US do not advance the shared ambitions of both countries,” the ministry said, adding that it expected all stakeholders to recognise the value of talent mobility. Earlier reporting noted: In a video message addressing Microsoft and other companies affected by the US suspension of the PERM green-card programme, Vance said, “You cannot lay off American workers and then replace them with foreign indentured servants.
The response comes after the US Department of Labour suspended several major technology and outsourcing firms from the programme amid multiple active federal investigations. “It should be noted that PERM is distinct from the H-1B visa programme. Other IT and technology firms on the list are – Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe.
Earlier reporting noted: Under the PERM decision, the US Department of Labor has suspended the processing of pending applications and stopped accepting new applications under the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme for eight firms, including Indian IT companies Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services ( TCS ), Wipro and HCL Technologies. In its statement on Friday, the MEA stressed that the PERM programme, which is linked to employment-based permanent residency, is separate from the H-1B visa programme. Earlier reporting noted: India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Friday the US suspension of applications under the PERM programme for certain companies will not, by itself, affect the validity of existing H-1B visas, but could impact the green-card process for eligible employees of the affected firms.
The ministry also took issue with comments by US Vice President JD Vance, who described H-1B visa workers as “indentured servants” while speaking at a news conference on visa fraud on Thursday.
