India plans social security pact with US (H1B's-No SS)

[OhioChick]

November 18, 2006 12:15 IST

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said in New York on Friday that New Delhi is trying to negotiate for an agreement with the Bush Administration under which temporary Indian workers in the US would not have to pay social security taxes.

Talking to a small group of Indian journalists Ravi said during the visit of Belgium prime minister Guy Verhofstadt to India earlier this month an agreement, called social security agreement, was signed with Belgian Foreign Minister under which Indians who would work there for less than five years would have the option of paying their social security taxes in India rather than in Belgium.

'We are also negotiating with the United States for a similar kind of agreement,' Ravi said in response to a question. He said such agreements would also be signed with other European Union countries as well following conclusion of negotiations.

For hundreds of thousands of Indian H1B workers in the US, the mandatory payment of social security tax has been an issue since workers who go back to India after six years of temporary employment in the US either voluntarily or due to lack of sponsorship for permanent residency cannot claim the money they had paid from their earnings. For the permanent residents and citizens, social security acts something like a social insurance program at old age.

http://www.rediff.com/money/2006/nov/18india.htm

[Vorta]

1. I have a better idea.

temporary Indian workers in the US would not have to pay social security taxes.


If we would simply refuse these "temporary workers" entry, then we won't have to worry about whether they pay taxes or not.

[greenman3610]

2. so, then employers don't have to chip in anything

either? So, it's like even cheaper to hire cheap labor?

Gee, sounds like everybody wins.... guest workers, cheap republican
employers, GOP politicians, Indian politicians.....

who am I missing?

[ChromeFoundry]

3. once again.... the middle class gets the shaft. n/t

[rucky]

4. in-sourcing

what a bunch of tools.

[lumberjack_jeff]

12. Bingo

Making imported workers 15% more affordable than they already are can't have a downside, can it?

[saigon68]

25. GREEDY "FREE TRADE NEOCONS"

[high density]

5. How about we cut the H-1B visa program

It's nothing but a handout to the corporations on the backs of tech workers that are already fighting in a very bad job market.

[acmejack]

6. Tell them to fuck themselves.

Not only no, but hell no! How much are we going to take?

[FernBell]

7. Shrub will do it just to get the cheap labor.

[booksenkatz]

10. Will he make such a deal with Mexico?

It would be interesting to see just how far this gang is willing to go in order to get cheap "legal" labor from other countries.

[Warren Stupidity]

8. This is total bullshit.

The one benefit we domestic workers get out of programs like H1B is that they pay into our social benefits programs but generally do not get any pay out. If they do not like our tax structure, they should feel free to seek employment elsewhere. There is no benefit to US citizens here, other than to the 400 or so elite families that run our businesses and our government.

[w4rma]

9. That will create a ****huge**** incentive to outsource. (nt)

[liberal N proud]

11. So now they will start importing Indians to do our work?

Mexicans to do the cheap uneducated labor, Indians to do the hi-tech work. What do they expect the Americans to do? We would all love to go to Disney World, but we can't afford it as our jobs are all gone overseas or given to workers from other lands.

[brokensymmetry]

13. Disney World? Heck, we'd like to go to the grocery store...

and not have to use a carefully prepared list...and coupons.

I wonder. When do I get to vote for someone who will
represent out interests? Or is that too much to ask?

[liberal N proud]

14. My reference to Disney World was in light of all the free time we have since

all our jobs have been outsourced or employees imported. Since we no longer were allowed to work, they assume we would be people of leisure.

[PassingFair]

19. Look under D, for Dean, Howard...

Steer clear of Republicans and DLC democrats
with vested interests in low wage corporate
strategies for profits that eliminate living
wages for middle class Americans.

[Judi Lynn]

15. This is ghastly. Is it possible a decent Congress could overturn it in January? n/t

[OhioChick]

16. From: Oct 18, 2006

US to quicken visa process


HYDERABAD, OCT 18 (PTI) — In a bid to speed up the processing of visa application and clear the backlog, the US embassy has initiated a series of measures including capacity augmentation, providing online facility for visa-seekers to advance their appointments and increase the staff and resources to meet the growing demand.


As of last week, about 40,000 visa applications were pending with the US missions across the country and efforts were on to clear them as quickly as possible, the Consul General at the US embassy Peter G Kaestner told reporters here today.
Keeping in view the spiraling demand in India, which accounts for 50 percent of the total number of H1B visas issued last year, the US was planning to expand its visa operations in the country.
As part of these plans, the consulate office would be set up in Hyderabad early 2008 where 1.25 lakh to 1.40 lakh visa applications could be processed in a year, Kaestner, who was here to inspect the facilities at Paigah Palace which will house the temporary facility.
The applicants could also check website for details.
do so online by visiting the embassy’s website.
While the Hyderabad office would have 15 visa processing counters, plans were afoot to double the number in New Delhi from the present nine, he said.
http://oheraldo.in/node/19857

[lovuian]

17. This H1B thingy just is getting so out of hand

Unfreakingbelievable... I want to see the Democrats answer to this

cause its NOT RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nashyra]

18. Education

Start wth the local elected officials, we need to make education a prority in this country again

[teryang]

20. another attack on social security

what a crock! Corporations not witholding. Government pretending fica witholding is anything other than a general tax. Also the falsehood that HIB applicants do anything but apply for US citizenship after they qualify.

[ChromeFoundry]

21. Monday morning kick.

:kick:

[Thor_MN]

22. I feel my approach may be underhanded, but

Are the GOP aware that most of these H1B workers are not Xtians?

[Tempest]

27. They don't care

They represent workers and can undermine the labor movement at the same time.

It's a win-win situation for the GOP.


You don't really believe the GOP cares about the religious right except when it comes to votes, do you? ;)

[Thor_MN]

23. We don't know that they are only going to be here 5 years...

Social Security is insurance, not a defined benefit plan. If you die before retirement age, your estate doesn't get a payout of what you contributed. So the H1B workers get the peace of mind that if they retire in the US after working long enough to qualify, they will recieve retirement benefits. Don't like it? Find another country to undermine.

As for the employers, they are paying for their workforce. I don't get a refund from my local taxes for schooling becasue I have no children, corporations have no right to expect a refund from their taxes if find a way to dispose of their workers prior to benefits being paid.

[area51]

24. kick.

Things like this affect everyone; not just those in I.T. For every job that traitorous republinazis can't offshore, they'll try to inshore. Just ask nurses.

[AnneD]

28. Thank you....

Nurses HAVE been speaking out against this. It is gutting our health care system. Why would a personnel manager higher a local trained Nurse when he can get an imported one brought here cheaper. He has no incentive to improve the job conditions or wages. Amidst all this 'Nursing Shortage' Nursing schools are actually closing, CLOSING! Nurses wages that finally started going up in the late 1997's (after being stagnant in the go go days 90-96) are now compressing AGAIN. Now why is that happening. These visas are being used to short circut the natural market forces of supply and demand, much to the detriment of the workers.

[EnviroBat]

26. I am so completely fed up with this horse-shit!

DEMS, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS NOW!