Okay, so I was just watching the news. They were talking about Microsoft setting up shop in Vancouver.
One of their stated reasons was the ability to hire more foreign workers than the US will allow. So, we’re talking H1-B visas in the US, which come in limited numbers. Whenever this comes up, they invariably interview somebody who says the companies want to tap into cheaper foreign labour.
Okay… sending your call centre to India, that gets you cheaper labour. Having crap manufactured in China: cheaper labour. The common thread? The work is done over there.
Are companies really bringing in foreign workers and paying them less? “Sorry Arjun, I know the guy down the hall makes $80k, but we’re paying you in promotional swag.” “Queenie, you’re just going to have to sit on the floor and wear a headlamp: we can’t afford a chair or lights for your foreign ass.”
Am I missing something? Is it not more likely that they can’t hire enough US workers with solid technical skills? Why else bother?
July 7th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Microsoft Investors: Oh no! Our software is frequently very late! Nobody wants to program in our languages anymore! We’re alarmed!
Microsoft CEO: Don’t worry! We’re hiring way more people and pretending to sue Linux!
Microsoft HR: Way more people? We’re running out of people to hire!
Canada: We have people!
Microsoft HR: You do?
Canada: They know Java!
Microsoft HR: Huzzah! Let’s import Canadians!
Microsoft Accounting: That’s really expensive. Let’s go to Canada!
Microsoft HR: But.. it’s cold there!
Canada: Not in Vancouver!
Microsoft HR: To Vancouver!
Microsoft CEO: Vancouver!
Microsoft Investors: Vancouver?
Microsoft CEO: Vancouver?
Microsoft HR: Vancouver?
Microsoft Accounting: Um.. Immigration to Canada is easy! We can hire inexpensive tech workers!
Microsoft HR: Inexpensive Tech Workers!
Microsoft CEO: Inexpensive Tech Workers!
Microsoft Investors: Inexpensive Tech Workers!
Tech Workers: Inexpensive Tech Workers?
July 8th, 2007 at 2:20 am
I think some of it is related to a desire to hire educated competent people from countries that whose US immigration numbers have declined over the past few years, say… Iran? That and to take advantage of the existing rather large tech labour pool here. Plus, who wouldn’t want to come to Vancouver?
July 8th, 2007 at 2:23 am
grr… delete the first instance of the word “that” from the previous. Lousy lack of after the fact editing…
July 8th, 2007 at 11:25 am
I could totally see Microsoft being frustrated at not being able to get qualified Iranian workers into the US. That’s pretty much their stated problem.
My question is with the guy who is invariably interviewed who says it’s really because they want to pay less. My suspicion is that that guy really wants to say “there are already too many darkies here”, but can’t so comes up with “lower pay”.
I want to know if that guy really has a point, or is just xenophobic.
July 8th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
If more immigrants get work in the US, the terrorists win. Duh.