India calls Vance’s remarks on Indian professionals ‘deeply offensive’, says US PERM move hurts shared ambitions
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India on Friday criticised the US decision to suspend permanent labour certification applications for several major technology companies, saying the move does not advance the shared ambitions of the two countries. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also described US Vice President JD Vance’s remarks on foreign workers as “deeply offensive”, citing their historical and colonial connotations.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, responding to the US Department of Labour’s suspension of companies from the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme, said the action could affect the green-card process for eligible employees but would not, by itself, invalidate existing H-1B visas.
“It should be noted that PERM is distinct from the H-1B visa programme,” Jaiswal said. “The suspension of PERM applications does not, by itself, affect the validity of existing H-1B visas or the status of H-1B visa holders and their dependents.”
He added, however, that “there could be some impact on the permanent-residency/Green Card process of eligible employees of the affected companies”.
India flags mutual benefits of talent mobility
The MEA said the movement of skilled professionals benefits both India and the US, pointing to its contribution to innovation, research, productivity and job creation.
“While it creates opportunities for Indians, it equally helps US companies with cutting-edge talent, innovation, research, productivity, competitiveness and job creation, besides creating shareholder wealth in the US,” Jaiswal said.
Describing talent mobility as “an area of tremendous mutual benefit for the two countries”, he said India expected all stakeholders to recognise its value.
“The steps announced by the US do not advance the shared ambitions of both countries,” Jaiswal added.
The US Department of Labour on Thursday announced that it would stop accepting new or processing pending PERM applications involving Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, HCL and Capgemini. US technology companies Microsoft and Adobe were also included in the suspension.
PERM is a key step in the employer-sponsored employment-based green-card process. The action does not, by itself, suspend existing H-1B visas.
MEA hits back at Vance’s remarks
The ministry also responded to Vance’s comments on foreign workers, saying his descriptions overlooked the contribution of Indian professionals to the US economy.
“We believe that such descriptions are unwarranted and ignore the fact that Indian professionals in the United States are highly educated and skilled contributors to its economy and innovation ecosystem,” Jaiswal said.
He noted that generations of immigrants had helped shape the US through their labour, enterprise and innovation.
“Resorting to terminology that carries painful historical and colonial legacy connotations is deeply offensive,” he said.
Vance had described H-1B workers as “foreign indentured servants” while discussing the US administration’s action against technology companies. He also alleged that firms were using foreign workers to undercut American wages and replace domestic employees.
The MEA said it would “continue to follow developments around this issue”.