H-1B visas: Mamata Banerjee voices concern for Indian techies in US

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday expressed her concern over the proposed overhaul ​of the H-1B visa programme by US President Donald Trump. She said that it was the Centre’s responsibility to safeguard the interests of Indian IT companies and Indian techies working overseas.

In two separate tweets she said that the news regarding H-1B visa, was of concern. The tweets read, ‘News about H-1B visas is concerning. We must protect our IT companies and professionals and give them full support’ and ‘India is proud of the world-class talent of its IT techies. It is our duty to secure their interests’.

News about H-1B visas is concerning. We must protect our IT companies and professionals and give them full support 1/2

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 2, 2017

India is proud of the world-class talent of its IT techies. It is our duty to secure their interests. 2/2

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 2, 2017

IT professionals are our pride and inspiration. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters 1/2

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 2, 2017

We pledge our solidarity with our IT professionals in USA 2/2

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) February 2, 2017

The US government issues 65,000 H-1B non-immigrant visas to companies for foreign employees and a new reform bill proposes to increase the present minimum salary of $ 60,000 a year to $130,000 per annum. Indian IT firms as well as global IT giants would be worst hit as their expenses to hire skilled foreign employees would shoot up. Smaller companies would not be able to hire them at all.