A group of American professionals has leveled serious allegations against Indian tech giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), accusing the company of discriminatory hiring practices related to the H-1B visa program. These allegations add a new dimension to the ongoing debate surrounding skilled foreign workers’ employment in the United States.
The workers, numbering at least 22 and hailing from diverse ethnic backgrounds, have filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging that TCS unlawfully discriminated against them based on race and age. They claim that TCS terminated their employment abruptly and replaced them with Indian immigrants on H-1B visas, citing preferential treatment towards Indian workers already possessing the visa.
The H-1B visa program allows US companies to hire foreign workers for specialized technical roles, typically lasting three to six years and often renewed for those pursuing permanent residency. However, critics argue that this program can be misused to exploit cheap labor from overseas, potentially displacing American workers and lowering wages.
The affected workers, residing across multiple states in the US and holding advanced degrees, including a master’s in business administration, allege that TCS targeted them based on protected characteristics of age and race, which is a violation of employment laws.
While layoffs affecting more senior workers are not uncommon, the workers allege that TCS specifically targeted them based on discriminatory criteria, which they argue is illegal.
TCS has yet to respond to these allegations, which come amidst broader scrutiny of the H-1B visa program’s impact on the American workforce and its role in the tech industry’s talent acquisition strategies.