General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Clinton Calms Silicon Valley’s Worries, Promises To Preserve High-Skill Visas [View all]Statistical
(19,264 posts)We are talking about skilled workers. Trying to do that to Americans would simply mean the American leaves for a better employer.
H1B workers are essentially wage slaves. They have no rights. If they complain they go home, if they leave the employer they go home (and take a 99% paycut and probably have no way to feed their families). So the suck it up and do what they are told. 80 hour work weeks, substandard pay, work outside of their job description (a common trick - hire an experienced db developer under a H1B for entry level tech support and then have him do db work at an entry level tech support pay).
You have a system where the worker has no power, no choice, no control and no matter how awful the American company is, the situation back home is even worse.
There is one simple way to fix H1B program. Make companies pay 200% of the prevailing wage (with prevailing wage determined by the govt). The employee gets half of the pay and the govt gets the other half to cover costs. Companies would only use H1B when there is no qualified American because why pay 200% for an H1B when you can pay an American 100%.