U.S. says IT firm underpaid H-1B workers

[pampango]

Source: Computerworld

The U.S. Department of Labor is alleging that a Newark, N.J., software company, Peri Software Solutions Inc., underpaid its tech workers on H-1B visas and owes some $1.45 million in back wages to 163 people.

The Labor Department is also seeking to hit Peri with a $439,000 civil penalty and a two-year debarment from the H-1B program. About 20 H-1B employers are on the department's current list of debarred organizations.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis said that the company's alleged actions "demonstrate the kind of abuses that our laws are designed to prevent. "Every worker deserves to be paid for his or her work, and the Labor Department is committed to holding those companies that violate our nation's labor laws accountable." Specifically, Labor Department investigators contend that Peri failed to pay prevailing wages to workers hired under the H-1B program. The company also "forced employees to sign employment contracts and then sued them when contracts were broken," said the Labor Department.

More broadly, immigration authorities have been increasing enforcement of the H-1B program and demanding more evidence to support visa applications.

Read more: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9161438/U.S._says_IT_firm_underpaid_H_1B_workers

[Oregone]

1. Yeah, Im positive all his H1-Bs were given out to these more skilled workers

As Ive often learned here, its never about the money. Americans are just incompetent IT guys

:sarcasm:

[proudohioan]

2. Welcome to America!

Did ya think that life was gonna be fair?

[1776Forever]

3. Well now did they save money by hiring these immigrated workers? BS!

Here we go again with our Big Corps trying to save money and finding out they really should have paid a decent wage to begin with to our own citizens!

[No Elephants]

29. This corp. gambled and lost, bc it got caught. How many gambled and won.

[1776Forever]

30. Perhaps this question goes along with that - How many more will file for more money now?

Maybe there will be a cascade of H1B workers filing for more money! I wouldn't doubt it!

[moonbatmax]

4. Why, I am SHOCKED!!!

SHOCKED, I tell ya!!!

I mean, just so totally

!!!SHOCKED!!!

to think that ANY American company would even CONSIDER
using the H-1B visa program to hire cheap foreign labor
and undercut AMERICAN workers!

I mean, REALLY, it's just so SHOCKING!

(Did I mention I was shocked?)



(We really need a 'smiley' for that...)

[hedgehog]

5. Will this do?

[Romulox]

6. You yourself have assured us that this is an IMPOSSIBILITY. So I don't believe it! nt

[pampango]

8. Don't remember assuring you of that. I know I'm getting old when you remember my posts better

than I do. Believe what you wish (as if I needed to tell you that ;) ).

[OhioChick]

9. Romulox is correct....

I was a bit surprised to see you as the OP. :hi:

[pampango]

11. If I ever said that abuse of the H-1B system was an impossibility, then my memory

is not as good as yours either. As the politicians say, "to the best of my recollection, I never said that."

I posted this because I think it is a good thing that the DOL is cracking down on the New Jersey company that is abusing the program. I didn't post it to solicit sympathy for the "poor" software company who is being harassed by the evil DOL. If that were the case, I would have said so in the comments. I thought the article stood for itself. :)

[Romulox]

12. No indeed. You are anxious prove that the H1B system is "fair".

Because you are its biggest supporter here on DU.

[pampango]

14. I really messed up then by posting an OP that proves the H-1B system is not "fair".

If I'm it's "biggest supporter here on DU" (were there other nominees?; was the vote unanimous?; or do you handle these decisions yourself?), then the program is in really bad shape here since even I am posting OP's that deal with the government penalizing a company for abusing the system. ;)

[Romulox]

15. Right--"the system works", so let's increase H1Bs, eh?

:hi:

[pampango]

18. You got that from my post? n/t

[Romulox]

19. Are you kidding? You spent last week saying the US should emulate the EU, but didn't mention Greece!

Why would I waste even two seconds trying to engage with someone who ignores any inconvenient data? My purpose on your threads is to make sure people know what your agenda is.

[pampango]

21. Obviously the EU has problems. I still believe that the EU has made life in Europe much better.

Greece joined the EU in 1981. In 1980 Greece's per capita income was 75% that of France. In 2008 that figure was up to 96%, so I would say that membership in the EU has been good for Greece.

Greece is going through a crisis now. Since it is a part of the EU the whole continent is involved. You might look at that and say it's too bad Greece is tied to the rest of the continent. Otherwise, the other European countries wouldn't be affected by this Greek situation. Greece could sink or swim on its own.

The whole point of the EU is that they are all "in it together". The purpose of open borders to immigration and trade with each other was to tie them together, so that "your" problem is "my" problem. It has been good for peace and prosperity on the continent. It doesn't make the EU perfect. They still have problems. I hope they work through their current problems and emerge stronger than ever.

[Romulox]

23. "All together," huh? "Greece loses EU voting power in blow to sovereignty"

You're a few news cycles behind (still). :hi:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/7252288/Greece-loses-EU-voting-power-in-blow-to-sovereignty.html

"so that "your" problem is "my" problem."

Start a lot of threads about domestic poverty, do you? Of course not. :rofl:

[pampango]

24. If can't vote at one meeting, that might not be too high a price for a few billion euros bailout.

"...the symbolic move to suspend Greece of its voting rights at one meeting makes no practical difference..."

"Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the Eurogroup, hinted that ministers have already agreed on a support mechanism, should it be necessary. It will most likely involve bilateral aid by eurozone states."

Perhaps it is "tough love" from the EU to Greece. We'll end up helping pay for this screwup, but there will be a price to pay. If the EU ends up helping Greece take care of this financial crisis then the "your" problem is "my" problem will have worked once again.

[Romulox]

25. Some animals are more equal than others is what you're trying to say.

And I will take your ignoring my second question as a tacit admission. :hi:

[pampango]

26. You got that from my post? If Greece breaks the commitments it made when it joined the EU,

then has to miss one vote and will get a multi-billion euro bailout from the EU for its own mistakes, I don't see the injustice.

:hi:

[Romulox]

27. Didn't I tell you that I'm not really reading your posts any more?

I've tried to have "discussions" with you, but I simply can't be bothered any longer. My goal is simply to remind everybody what you're an advocate for the H1B program, not a critic! :hi:

[pampango]

28. Once again, feel free to declare away and label without evidence. It's a DU right! n/t

[Romulox]

10. You're the biggest advocate for outsourcing and cheap labor here on DU. No mistake. nt

[pampango]

13. Oh, I'm pro-trade, as was FDR, and pro-immigration. If they are now considered not to be progressive

positions, then time has passed me by. I can live with that. Perhaps the "make the world go away" mindset with tariffs and stricter immigration limits has morphed from a republican mindset of FDR's era to progressive beliefs today. If so, you are a much better "modern" progressive than I am.

We will have to respectfully agree to disagree on the question of whether I ever "assured" you that abusing the H-1B visa program was an "IMPOSSIBILITY", which is what you post stated. I may not be the brightest bulb in the box, but it would be a bit inconsistent of me to assure you of THAT then post an OP about the government going after a company that has abused the H-1B program.

[Romulox]

16. I've found that the least patriotic persons I know drape themselves with the flag.

I wonder if it so with the word "progressive"? I suspect so! :hi:

"We will have to respectfully agree to disagree"

No respect from my side. I think you are dishonest.

[pampango]

20. I honestly didn't expect much respect from your side so no problem. I wondered if you would say that

when I wrote my post. And I don't think you are dishonest, we just disagree frequently.

As far as draping myself in the progressive flag, I merely pointed out that I consider being pro-immigration and pro-trade as progressive values (note: I don't consider abusing visa programs to be progressive which is why I posted this OP). I don't consider that to be draping myself in the progressive flag. ;)

[OhioChick]

7. No surprise...Happens all the time. n/t

[JI7]

17. many American workers are underpaid also

[paulflorez]

22. At one employer, H-1B software engineers with 7+ years experience made $15 - $30 an hour.

At one employer, H-1B software engineers with 7+ years experience made $15 - $30 an hour. Regular full time employees made $30 - $60 with benefits.
Of course the contractor they were working for charged the company anywhere from $30 - $50 an hour, keeping the rest of the paycheck and providing no benefits.
The contractors charge less than market rate and the employees get even less than that, but are happy to get it because it is so much more than what they make in their home country.

You should have seen how excited the contractors from Mexico were to get paid $15 an hour as software engineers with 7+ years experience. They were being exploited, it was sad.

Give the H-1B visas directly to the employees so that they can get full time work instead of getting ripped off by middlemen. I'd actually prefer getting rid of the program all together, but if they at least stop it from being so bad for the country I could be ok with it.

They were still giving out H-1B visas in 2009, with 10% unemployment.

[OhioChick]

31. 15 disqualified H-1B employers

Company: 4MY2C, Inc

Company: AGA John, Inc

Company: Amtech Electrocircuits

Company: API Accounting & Computer Consulting

Company: Assured Horizons, LLC

Company: Bradley Consulting Services, Inc

Company: Calpension, Inc

Company: Cambridge Resource Group, Inc

Company: Complete Systems Solutions, Inc

Company: Julian and Associates

Company: LNBJ Construction Company, Inc

Company: Magnolia Pool Supply, Inc

Company: Morex Enterprises Inc

Company: Netultimate.Com, Inc

Company: New Hope Solutions, Inc

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x520587