Gates' Proposal To End The H1B Visa Program Makes Little Sense
But then Bill Gates went to Washington to do some personal lobbying for changes in federal policy—something he doesn't do very often, yet probably should. Trouble is, he was lobbying for the abolishment of the H1B visa cap, which limits the number of foreign workers in the United States. I thought, this has huge ramifications, so I'm back to a single-issue column.
According to reports by the Associated Press and Reuters News Service, Gates said: "The whole idea of the H1B visa thing is, don't let too many smart people come into the country. The thing basically doesn't make sense."
Gates claimed Microsoft is having a hard time finding skilled workers in the United States, and the limited visas available for skilled workers are only making matters worse.
I'm sorry, but this is really bad PR for Microsoft. It makes it look as though Gates and Microsoft only like the free-market system and rules of supply and demand when it works to their advantage. If Microsoft is having difficulty finding skilled workers, there are a number of things it can do to correct the situation, not the least of which is to raise the salaries it is offering. Or maybe it should do something to stem the exodus of workers leaving Microsoft for better opportunities elsewhere.
Microsoft's problem isn't a lack of skilled workers, it's a lack of desire on the part of those with skills to work at Microsoft for the compensation it is offering.
Why is that? Well, maybe it's because the workers Gates is after would rather work for Google, where they have a better chance of making it big on the stock options, something that once worked to Microsoft's advantage. Or maybe the talent he seeks believes there are more exciting development environments elsewhere. Maybe if Microsoft had a larger presence in Silicon Valley or the Boston area, where there is lots of talent, the company would find it easier to recruit.
What Gates is proposing would result in the ability of any company to use an unlimited supply of foreign workers to drive the salaries of American workers down. This would lead to a reduction in the U.S. standard of living, meaning American workers would have less to spend on goods and services, including Microsoft's.
That, Bill, is what doesn't make sense. And that is something no politician is going to back if he or she wants to be re-elected.
Here's one unsolicited comment about all this that I received from a Microsoft partner, who asked not to be identified: "What's missing in Bill G.'s remarks on removing the limits on the H1B visa program? I'll give you a hint: It's spelled p-a-r-t-n-e-r-s With one presentation and gratuitous nod to the administration, Bill G. has managed to alienate both of Microsoft's classic supporters: the developers who have always supported it by adopting its frameworks, APIs and development tools, and whose salaries are being artificially kept down in a supply-and-demand scenario through the H1B visa program; and partners, who could pick up the slack related to Microsoft's inability to find adequate resources in the domestic job market."
From my own perspective, the H1B visa program has issues. In fact, it may need to be relaxed. I don't know enough about it, quite frankly. But what I do know is that the abolishment of the program is just not realistic nor would it benefit anyone other than foreign workers, who would gain access to more American jobs.
Make something happen. I can be reached at (516) 562-7812 or via e-mail at [email protected].