Proving that his firm stance for the protection of American workers is no empty campaign rhetoric, President-elect Donald Trump reiterates anew his priority to stop labor practices and measures that are detrimental to U.S. citizens. This includes preventing companies from abusing the visa process for foreign workers in a way that undermines the labor market and negatively affects American workers.
In his thank you rally in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the incoming President discussed the stories and sentiments shared to him by American workers during the campaign. Those workers were laid off by their companies, but before they could go, they were forced by their bosses to train foreign hires brought in to replace them.
It was a clear case of not just adding insult to injury, but of flagrant abuse. Trump strongly condemned such practice, describing it as demeaning for American workers. He then vowed that under his watch, he will never allow those abuses to happen again.
Trump also shared that those firms would withhold severance pay for the workers unless they agreed to train the foreign replacements. He did not name the companies in his speech but underscored the needed reforms to curb such deplorable practices.
The 45th American President also promised to issue an executive order asking the Department of Labor to investigate abuses that undermine American workers' jobs and wages. Trump said it would, in fact, be one of his first executive orders after he is inaugurated into office.
Shortly after his election victory, Trump has said that the creation and return of jobs to the U.S. could be the single, biggest agenda of the first 100 days of his administration, and even came out with a video message underscoring this policy declaration.
The U.S. issues H1B visas as temporary work visas to foreigners for such fields as Information Technology. In 2015, the country issued 85,000 H1B visas, 64% of which went to Indians, and 84% of which were intended for technology-related jobs.
The huge number of H1B visa issuance by the U.S. government plus the apparent large concentration of it going to Indians have been widely criticized by both Republicans and Democrats in Congress.
