Ensure mobility of professionals: India

India on Tuesday raised concerns over the protectionist sentiments in the US with regard to outsourcing. External affairs minister S M Krishna urged visiting US secretary of state Hillary Clinton to ensure the mobility of Indian professionals, especially those in the IT sector, to the US.

India on Tuesday raised concerns over the protectionist sentiments in the US with regard to outsourcing. External affairs minister S M Krishna urged visiting US secretary of state Hillary Clinton to ensure the mobility of Indian professionals, especially those in the IT sector, to the US.

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India’s proposals come in the wake of voices against outsourcing get shriller during the election year in the US. Recently, the Obama campaign has stoked a controversy with its new advertisement, which accused Republican nominee Mitt Romney of outsourcing jobs to India when he was the Massachusetts governor.

Delhi has been maintaining various barriers on the free movement of professionals against WTO norms. India has also been consistently taking up its concerns over the rejection of visa applications— both in H1B and L1 categories— with the US.

H1B is work permit for temporary workers, while L1 visa allows companies to relocate qualified employees to thier US offices. Rate of rejection of L1 applications of
Indian professionals rose to 28% in 2011 as compared to 2.8% in 2008. There is a rise in rejection of H1B visas also. Delhi maintains that the Indian IT industry played a big role in building competitiveness for US firms.