WIN: Companies Accepting Stimulus Money Will Have To Try Harder To Hire U.S. Workers

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/10543

Companies receiving federal money from the stimulus package will have a harder time hiring workers on H1-B visas. Jesse Russell reports:

All companies that receive money from the stimulus package will be categorized as “H1-B dependent” for two years, according to a provision in the bill that was signed by President Barack Obama this week. The stipulation is typically only applied to companies with a workforce made up of at least 15 percent of H-1B visa holders. Under the “dependent” status those companies need to prove that they have made an effort to find U.S. workers who are qualified for the position before bringing in an employee on the visa. The company will also need to prove that the job had first been offered to any U.S. workers that have applied and are equally qualified. It also requires proof that the position being filled by a visa worker hasn’t resulted in the loss of work for any U.S. workers in the previous 90 days. The U.S. has a cap of 85,000 H-1B visas annually. Companies that violate the H1-B provisions can be fined and banned from using the program.

[robinlynne]

1. That's how it was "supposed" to work anyway!!!!!!!!!

meaning the hib visa program.