As the Trump regime triggered fears of tightening the H-1B visa programme, Bengaluru-based Infosys said it plans to hire 10,000 American workers in the US over the next two years, and open four technology centres too. The first centre is expected to open in Indiana, in August. The company, in a statement, said the Indiana technology hub is expected to create 2,000 jobs by 2021.
“Infosys is committed to hiring 10,000 American technology workers over the next two years to help invent and deliver the digital futures for our clients in the United States,” said Infosys chief executive officer Vishal Sikka. The IT services firm said it would hire experienced technology professionals and recent graduates from major universities, and local and community colleges, to create the talent tools for the future. It would also have training programmes in key competencies such as user experience, cloud, artificial intelligence, big data and digital offerings, along with core technology and computer science skills.
Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy has repeatedly appealed to Indian companies asking them to reduce their heavy dependence on the H-1B visa programme. He also said that Indian IT firms should focus on local hiring in the US, and that they needed to “stop using H-1B visas and sending a large number of Indians to those countries to deliver services.”
Just last month, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order, directing federal agencies to implement a 'Buy American, Hire American' strategy. He had also called on the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Labour, and the Secretary of Homeland Security to “propose new rules and issue new guidance, to supersede or revise previous rules and guidance if appropriate, to protect the interests of United States workers in the administration of our immigration system, including through the prevention of fraud or abuse.”
