After Nath, USIBC takes initiative to protect outsourcing

Washington, May 17 (UNI) The US-India Business Council (USIBC) has asked its 250 member-companies to revitalise participation and interest in the Coalition for Economic Growth and American Jobs (CEGAJ), which it launched during the last backlash against outsourcing in 2004.

The USIBC said this precautionary move is the result of the ''unusual US Senatorial inquiries'' that were sent on Tuesday to a number of its member-companies.

The inquiries sought clarification as to the companies' application for and use of H1-B visas.

''USIBC strongly supports expanding the H1-B visa cap, as well as developing a new technology professional visa that will facilitate greater movement of technology professionals between the US and India,'' the business council said in a statement.

USIBC President Ron Somers in his call to the US Congress to increase H1-B visa caps and liberalise ease of travel for technology professionals, has pledged that USIBC will remain vigilant in its efforts to prevent a backlash against this ever-more important inter-dependent industry.

''USIBC will ratchet up its education campaign on Capitol Hill to highlight the benefits resulting from the robust commerce of a 'flatter world' economy. We will continue to push for greater movement of technology professionals, including the increase in the H1-B visa cap, as well as the creation of a new technology professional visa.'' ''These are essential elements needed to support the integration of our information economy, which must be on par with the US-India strategic partnership,'' Mr Somers said.

The USIBC has also been monitoring the recent explosion of legislation at the state level that would constrain outsourcing in varying ways.

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