Reply #57: It's all about cheap labor. They can't STAND empowered workers.

[mhatrw]

http://www.cio.com/article/195907/Why_the_H_B_Visa_Has_Such_a_Bad_Reputation

"Executives are being told by their hiring managers that there are not skilled workers in the U.S. and they must seek H-1Bs to fill positions," says Terri Morgan, a principal at Wudang Research Association who says she has encountered issues when seeking IT employment from U.S. companies, such as IBM. "There are a whole host of us out here that have really good skills and know the culture, but maybe we don't have one item on the check list HR is seeking. H-1B applicants know how to manipulate the system and companies know how to make it appear as though they exhausted their options here." ...

"Unfortunately, the program often seems to be abused and results in American workers being sacrificed for cheaper resources and facilitates the transfer of jobs abroad," says James Kritcher, vice president of IT at White Electronic Designs in Phoenix. Reports of Indian outsourcing firms snagging many temporary visas concern Kritcher, who says if the program worked as it was intended, he would support it fully. ...

"Long term, I think that the program may create market interference that drives down wages, displaces qualified candidates, encourages companies to outsource offshore and removes incentive for college students to enter IT—as evidenced by recent drops in computer science enrollment. No one wants to enter a profession where they may become "disposable,'" he says. "The U.S. is known for creativity and innovation. If core use of technology is sent offshore it could result in less innovation and a reduced comparative advantage."