Nasscom advises US to create jobs
Describing US "protectionist" moves as a "disturbing trend", apex IT industry body NASSCOM on Wednesday said it hoped that America will make more investments to create jobs, instead of taking such "regressive" actions.
"I hope the US makes more positive investments to create jobs and to become competitive, rather than taking any regressive action which seems negative and will lead to protectionist measures around the world," NASSCOM Chairman Som Mittal said.
The state of Ohio in the US recently banned outsourcing by government departments to offshore locations like India.
The move came shortly after the US enacted a controversial legislation that proposed to strengthen security along its border with Mexico by increasing H-1B and L1 visa fees, which are highly sought after by Indian IT professionals.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the NASSCOM Infrastructure Management Services Summit 2010 in Bangalore, Mittal said the industry expects to hear more noise on the issue in view of the forthcoming elections to the US Senate and House of Representatives, but "we do not know in what form or shape it would be".
It was also not necessary that it would all be targetted at India, he added.
On the issue of flexible work permits and single visas for European Union countries, which the Indian IT industry has been clamouring for, he said NASSCOM had been working with the EU for last two years. It has produced a white paper, which has been accepted, he said.
He said this would be a "win-win situation not only for Indian service providers, but for everyone".
At present, one has to apply to individual EU countries separately for a visa. If a single visa was allowed, it could simplify things and reduce costs, not only in terms of application and processing fees, but also in travel planning and efficient use of people.
Such move might take a year's time given the fact that all the EU countries had to agree to it, he added.
On whether there is any opposition to the move, he said there were concerns, but was confident that the hurdles would be cleared.
