TCS Criticize Trump's Move Of Banning H-1B Visa

India’s largest IT company TCS said the US freeze on H-1B visas is an “unexpected and unfortunate" move. This move had played with the lives of professionals who had worked hard to deliver value to American customers.

“The ignorance around this ruling should be addressed," TCS chief executive Rajesh Gopinathan said at the company’s first-quarter earnings conference via videoconference, Bloomberg reported. “Playing with the status of people who’ve moved away from families and committed to spending five-six years in a foreign country without immigrant status to deliver value to customers, is a short-term gimmick.”

Gopinathan’s strong remarks came as TCS reported profit was below expectations after the COVID pandemic disrupted clients’ operations.

In earlier instances, when the US administration made changes to H-1B regulations, impacting Indian techies, TCS and its peers always maintained that they would fulfill the requirements by enhancing local hiring.

TCS was the 1st among Indian IT companies to call out the visa curbs, saying work visa holders play a major role in running banks, manufacturing companies, telcos, retailers, and significantly contribute to the US economy.

US President Donald Trump’s 22 June decision to ban work visas created panic among Indian workers who are in the US on valid visas. However, the US has told India that it will try and mitigate the impact of new visa rules.