"Reverse outsourcing" screws Indian workers in the U.S.

Jordan Golson — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:00:38 EST

Indian tech services firm Patni Computer Systems was ordered to pay $2.4 million in back wages to 607 workers in the U.S. on H-1B visas after a widespread underpayment of wages was discovered. Vishal Goel, a worker, profiled by BusinessWeek, is suing Patni, saying he was paid half what he was promised when he signed up. The company threatened to brand him a "troublemaker" and said his parents in India would be harassed unless he kept quiet. How does this affect Americans? H1-B employees are required to be paid the "prevailing wage" for their job position to prevent salaries from being depressed. Instead of the $44,000 wage which was common for his position, Goel was paid $35,000 — and that only after 552 hours of overtime.

Gawker: valleywag, patni computer systems

"Reverse outsourcing" screws Indian workers in the U.S.