Indian embassy to outsource jobs to American firm

SILICON VALLEY: After taking thousands of American jobs through outsourcing, India is planning to give a few back. The Indian embassy in the US capital is planning to outsource processing of visas to a US-based company.

A top embassy official wouldn't say whether the 40 staffers, many of them Indians, who presently do the job would be laid off.

"We are not going to let too many go," said Gautam Bambawale, head of political affairs at the embassy in Washington.

This week the Indian embassy placed a classified ad in the Wall Street Journal seeking companies for outsourcing visa collection and delivery.

"The objective is to make our whole operation more efficient, smoother and quicker," Bambawale was quoted as saying by Los Angeles Times.

UC Berkeley professor Harley Shaiken, who specialises in labour issues, said the move 'is really a man bites dog kind of story. It's a small irony in an otherwise serious situation'.

He said outsourcing of technology help-desks, accounting work and even medical procedures played a significant role in the USD 11.7 billion US trade deficit with India last year.

"It's nice to know that they retain us when it comes to processing visas," Shaiken said.

"Of course it would be better if it was in automobiles or textiles."