Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon Face Scrutiny As They Resume Hiring H-1B Workers After Layoffs

Tech giants Google, Microsoft, Meta (formerly Facebook), and Amazon have reportedly resumed hiring low-paid H-1B IT workers, just months after implementing significant layoffs. This move has sparked a debate about the ethics and labor practices of these influential companies, particularly regarding their treatment of foreign employees under the H1-B visa program.

Google reportedly submitted applications for low-paid H1-B employees to fill highly specialised tech roles in the US, according to a story by investigative journalist Lee Fang, who used data from the US Department of Labour. Many of these employees have H1-B visas.

Google submitted various applications for different positions, including software engineers, analytical consultants, user experience researchers, and more. Waymo, a Google subsidiary specializing in self-driving cars, also applied for visas for engineering roles. These visas were primarily for new hires, with some expected to start as early as August 17.

Companies like Meta Platforms, Amazon, Zoom, Salesforce, and Microsoft have requested hundreds of H1-B foreign worker visas, according to data from the Department of Labour. Massive layoffs have recently occurred at these businesses.

The recent hirings bring to light the irony that the US cutbacks have directly impacted thousands of H1-B visa holders, including those from India. Following their termination, these workers have lost or would soon lose their ability to remain in the US. However, the same company is making employment offers to a lot of new H1-B applicants.

Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has initiated a significant workforce reduction, laying off 21,000 employees over a span of a few months. CEO Mark Zuckerberg referred to it as the "year of efficiency," aligning with the downsizing trend in the US tech sector. Similarly, Google downsized by letting go of 12,000 employees in January, while Amazon implemented two rounds of layoffs, resulting in approximately 27,000 employees being removed from its workforce. In line with these developments,

Microsoft announced a global reduction in its workforce by nearly 5 percent, amounting to 10,000 jobs, in January. CEO Satya Nadella emphasized that despite the job cuts, the company would continue to hire in crucial strategic areas.