The Importance of Skilled Labour Immigration in a Weak Economy
There is a debate as to whether or not H-1B visas are efficient means for businesses to retain skilled labor. A recent survey conducted by Human Resource Consulting firm Sutherland Capital, and reported in the New York Times, suggests that it could be a boon to some companies to hire temporary foreign workers to fill specific job positions. However, it may also mean job losses for others.
Sutherland Capital says that it has researched the phenomenon of foreign skilled labour via H-1B visas, an immigration program for skilled workers. It has found that it is not cost effective for a business to retain such labour over those who are Indian citizens who come to the United States on a permanent basis.
The study shows that there is an opportunity cost to H-1B holders. It points out that companies cannot benefit from that immigration program at a time when the economy is still weak.
According to the report, “our experience has been that most American employees would prefer to have people in the United States than would foreigners. To some extent this may be due to fear of becoming redundant or too busy with work to want to look for a permanent replacement. However, the evidence suggests that the same workers’ preferences are likely to be present even if their wages and working conditions are not higher.”
One of the key findings of the study is that the temporary foreign worker program should not be viewed as a good model for other organizations. The author writes, “It is our view that businesses should use an H-1B visa as an exception and not the rule. The availability of these visas, without careful monitoring, could allow employers to displace US workers to meet labour demand.”
Sutherland does not offer any recommendations on how companies can stop this from happening. However, it is necessary to note that the firm did not lay out any laws or regulations that must be followed in order to avoid this from happening. The concept of Skilled Labour Immigration is meant to be a universal one in which all nations who do business with the US should comply with the laws of our country.
In a statement to the media, Sutherland points out that to ensure that it is not an effective threat to business, US employers need to develop an employee retention plan. These plans should be matched by domestic plans for protecting the interests of US citizens. The firm does not recommend government intervention in the matter.
At this point, all three authors of the article agree that the issue remains unsettled. However, the assertion that people have come to the US on the basis of fear of losing a job should concern all of us.
Benefits of Skilled Labor
Everyone would agree that when it comes to job satisfaction, a company is most happy when they have lots of skilled workers to fill vacancies. The question is, how can you use the benefits of skilled labor to your advantage? While you may be convinced that you should be looking for more people to fill your openings, you may be surprised to find out that the jobs out there are not all created equal.
Hight Competition in Skilled Labour Hunt
In today’s economy, competition is fierce and is hitting each and every industry at the knees. Now, what you should be doing is to run an analysis on your labor. What is the exact problem area in your business that you need to fix? Then, go ahead and analyze the skills of the people who can provide these skills.
For instance, some businesses may be needing more pollen. They don’t necessarily need everyone to be a lifeguard, but need to have a pool man, in addition to others, who can provide pool coverage. So, when interviewing pool men, the right thing to do is to look for those who are experienced and who can also provide lifeguard services. Not only will you be able to get this person through the HR department of the swimming pool, but you will also have an additional pool attendant.
Qualified and Skilled
Another example is to check the qualifications of the technicians who are working on your set-up. You may want a combination of those with different skills, such as a person with technical skills combined with having an eye for detail and other things. In doing so, you can make sure that you are using the benefits of skilled labor when you are hiring.
Health care can also be a difficult issue to handle. So, it is important to remember that the benefits of skilled labor is another way to increase productivity. With so many health-related issues cropping up in the work place, including back injuries, it is important to be able to use the right workers for the jobs you need done.
So, once you know who you are hiring and which category they fall under, it will be easier to come up with a medical insurance plan for them. When it comes to workers’ compensation, there are two types of plans – the short-term and the long-term. With short-term coverage, you would only need to pay a limited amount to get medical attention in the event of an injury while in the workplace.
High Pay can be Motivation for Long Term
On the other hand, if you are looking at long-term benefits, you will have to pay a bigger premium. While the premiums may be affordable, many workers still end up getting into situations where they become injured, which puts them in a financial bind when it comes to paying the doctor bills. But with long-term coverage, the worker is able to continue working, without worrying about their health insurance.
Now, there are plenty of benefits of skilled labor, but there are also many pitfalls that need to be avoided. By creating a list of the items you need, it will be easier to find the best workers for the jobs you need done. With the tips above, you will be able to find the right ones for your needs.
