Microsoft lays off H-1B workers

More proof that there never was an I.T. labor shortage.

The H-1B program should be halted. The meltdown in the economy is
a direct result of the job displacement of U.S. workers with cheap foreign H-1B workers.

H-1B workers are ordinary workers doing ordinary work.

There is no requirement to look for American workers, in fact, American workers can be replaced en-masse with H-1B workers.
www.dol.gov/_sec/stratplan/strat_plan_2006-2011.pdf
U.S. Department of Labor STRATEGIC PLAN Fiscal Years 2006-2011 pg. 35) states:

"... H-1B workers may be hired even when a qualified U.S. worker wants the job, and a U.S. worker can be displaced from the job in favor of the foreign worker."

The individual States might want to consider the impact to Unemployment Insurance.

If you lay-off 100,000 American workers and pay them 400.00 per week in UI, after 26 weeks you've spent another Billion Dollars.

If you lay-off 100,000 H-1B and L-1 non-immigrants, there is on Unemployment liability.

Not racist nor nationalist, just business.

Companies do not pay Unemployment Benefits, thay pay Unemployment Insurance to the Dept of Labor while the employee was working. Unemployment Insurance has already been paid so the company does not pay anything per week. The Department of Labor pays the Unemployment benefits.

Try again.

How about returning the medicare and social security taxes that these h1b employees have paid to the US Govt. This is simply business also.

It is the American company who needs the H1. Yes H1 is low-paid. no bonus, no leave,...In order to avoid the benefits given to US citizen, H1 candidate is recruited. Also they testify the H1 candidate before making him permanent. Goverernment is nowhere involved in here. Microsoft can still take off the H1 bcoz they are no more greencard or citizenship holders. They won't bcoz if the project is getting scrapped they take off the H1s irrespective of the no.s. it can't be done with the local citizens.