Laid-off IT workers muzzled as H-1B debate heats up
H1B worker here. I understand the sentiments of being replaced by an H1B worker. I just want to emphasize that the worker is not be blamed for this. The fault is with the H1B system &amp; the consultancies which exploit the H1B system.<p>1. The H1B visa is supposed to be a &quot;skilled visa&quot;. But currently this visa is purely based on luck and not on skills &amp; that&#x27;s how many bad apples game the system. The DOL approves LCA based on minimum wages. The consultancies just pay the minimum wages and bring in the H1B employee. This minimum wage should be increased to match the salary of a skilled American worker. So that this exploitation will stop.<p>eg: (the salaries are approximate)<p>In Arizona , the minimum annual salary for LCA is 62K, the average salary paid to an American worker is 115K. Consultancy firms like TCS,Infosys and many other local &quot;one room&quot; consultancies pays 62K and bring in H1B employees because 62K is the minimum stipulated by Department of Labor. Increasing this minimum 62K to a realistic salary like 115K will stop this abuse.<p>2. There is no easy job portability for H1B workers. Switching jobs on H1B is a precarious act and if something goes wrong, you will have to be out of the country immediately, no grace period. So to be on the safer side, many H1B employees stay silent and accept lowball offers. They also have kids who are going to school and a spouse who cannot work because they are on H4. So H1B workers job portability is not really easy.<p>Make H1B jobs portable without any strings attached. So that if an H1B employee is paid less and abused by the employer. He&#x2F;She can switch jobs easily. So this will prevent H1B abuse by the employers and they will think twice before low balling an H1B worker.<p>3. H1B is a dual intent visa. Once the employer starts GreenCard process for the worker. The H1B worker is literally on shackles. The rules are so strict that the worker cannot change jobs easily. Cannot accept promotions or title change for years. The worker silently accepts this because he&#x2F;she has a family &amp; kids to support just like any other American worker.<p>All I want to convey is: The H1B employee is not be blamed for this. The very rules of the H1B system are being gamed by the consultancy companies from India.
Stopping H1B system is not the solution because all the large companies in US has huge dependency on H1B employees.<p>So to stop this abuse,
1. Increase the minimum wages to a more realistic one. 
2. Stop lottery system and grant visas based on top salary. 
3. Make the H1B job easily portable.