Spot.us - Community Powered Reporting

H1B Workers Virtually Enslaved in Silicon Valley

Hey Reporters: build this pitch!

There's already $20.00
worth of interest!

Supporters

$20.00 pledged by 1 person
Default_avatar
Cyn Wells
Created 12/01/10
Default_avatar
Author
Cyn Wells

H1B Workers are very common in certain industries and cities in the US.  In Silicon Valley, they are extremely common and are often employed as software developers.  Given their tenuous immigration status, however, they are often over-worked, underpaid -- virtually enslaved.  They can't complain about poor working conditions or the enormous number of hours they work each week, without the risk of being fired.  Without a job, they have a very short window in which to find other sponsored employment or they have to leave the country -- or risk being in the US illegally.

Many companies take advantage of this short window, working their employees way in excess of 40 hours of work and requiring them to work holidays and weekends without additional pay.



  • Depends on Your Skin Color
    Default_avatar
    Maybe 25% of the H1-B workers are being paid the same as Americans. They are from Germany, Canada, and England. Another 25% are being paid maybe 60% of what an American makes. These people are from China or Indonesia. The ones from India, however, are getting paid something like 40% of what an American makes. On the average, H1-B workers cost the employer $40,000 per year less than hiring an American citizen. That's why they do it. That's why they pay corrupt academics to write phone papers about a "STEM shortage", and that's why they bribe members of Congress to continue the H1-B program. -Dave Chapman Silicon Valley, CA by Dave Chapman on Wednesday, December 1, 2010
  • Phony Shortage
    Default_avatar
    I agree that the shortage of workers is phony. The use of H1-Bs drives down wages for US workers and also leads to a higher unemployment rate. That being said, however, the abuse of H1-B workers themselves is also reprehensible. I don't have the journalistic background or time to do an in-depth expose on the subject, but I wish someone would! by Cyn Wells on Thursday, December 2, 2010
  • Disagree about skin color
    Default_avatar
    There is no such thing. Me and my friends are here for last 7 years and we always got paid than any other american. Yes there were employers who tried to underpay but at the end of the day there is a value for talent and not color. It all depends upon how much they trust and depend on you. I do not expect socialism. People get what they practice and deserve. by Bob Babes on Saturday, December 4, 2010
  • Jobs4US
    Default_avatar
    You are not enslaved. It is your choice to be here (and displace qualified Americans). If you don't like it here - you have a choice - LEAVE. Now. Please. by Jobs 4US on Sunday, December 5, 2010
  • Baseless Ignorant Discussion
    Default_avatar
    I am on H1B for last 5 years, I have never received anything less than 100,000 per anum & most people I know are also getting similar wages. The wages depend upon your ability to get into the right spot suited to your profile. Some outsourcing companies do make use of low wages by rotating employees between US and offshore offices but thats a temporary phase (3-6 months). Even after binding visa status to the employer most H1b workers are getting paid MORE because they are a) more fliexible b) more talented c) Its a specialty occupation. by bee_worker Dood on Monday, December 27, 2010

Post A Comment

H1B, immigration, worker abuse

Almost Funded Stories

Unfunded Stories

What is Spot.us?

Spot.Us is an open source project to pioneer "community powered reporting." Through Spot.Us the public can commission and participate with journalists to do reporting on important and perhaps overlooked topics. Contributions are tax deductible and we partner with news organizations to distribute content under appropriate licenses.