It also attempts to provide protection. protection for American workers to make certain the HlB program is not abused. Already in the existing program I believe there is a very firm set of protections that stand as safeguards for American workers. Essentially. what those protections are is a requirement that anyone who brings somebody to this country under the H1B visa program must pay that individual the higher of the prevailing wage or the salary in their company paid to people of like experience and skill. We think that is a pretty effective approach and it has proven to be effective. In the entire history of the H1B program there have been only eight willful violations determined to have existed. But it was our view that if we were going to increase the numbers we should also increase the vigilance with which we look at this program and the penalties against anyone who might seek to take advantage of it. So in addition to the aforementioned components of the legislation. our bill does the following: It increases from $1.000 to $5.000 per violation the fines to be imposed on any company that fails to meet that standard I indicated of requiring an H1B individual to be paid the higher of the prevailing wage in the industry or the actual salaries paid in that company for this type of position. Furthermore. in an attempt to make certain that no one in any way attempts to lay off an American worker to bring in an H1B employee. we impose a $25.000 fine per violation and a 2year debarment from the program where anyone violates the prevailing wage rule and it is determined has laid off somebody to fill the position with an H1B worker. In short. I think we have taken the steps necessary to guarantee that abuses in this program will not occur.
Keywords matched
H1B visa