It is duty of government to protect interest of IT companies, says Mamata on concern over H1B visa

Expressing concern over the news about H1B visa in the United States, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said it is the duty of the Indian government to protect the interests of Indian IT companies and IT professionals abroad.

“News about H-1B visas is concerning. We must protect our IT companies and professionals and give them full support.  India is proud of the world-class talent of its IT techies. It is our duty to secure their interests,” she said in a tweet.

After the reports that US President Donald Trump is set to sign a new executive order aimed at overhauling H-1B and described it as part of a larger immigration reform effort, India on Tuesday said it has conveyed its “interests and concerns” to the US.

The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US firms to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields.

The technology firms depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year.