LIVE TV
ZEE Business
ZEE BUSINESS
हिंदी में पढ़ें  हिंदी में पढ़ें
Live TV
Live TV
  • Home
  • Personal Finance
    • PPF
    • Mutual Funds
    • Income tax
    • EPFO
    • Income Tax Calculator
    • Personal Loan Calculator
    • Car Loan Calculator
    • Home Loan Calculator
    • SIP calculator
    • SWP Calculator
    • MF Returns Calculator
    • Lumpsum Calculator
  • India
    • Companies
    • Property
    • Startups
    • Uidai
  • Economy
    • Aviation
  • Tech
    • Mobiles
    • Apps
  • Auto
    • Cars
    • Bikes
  • Markets
    • Commodities
    • Currency
  • Jobs
  • Indian Railways
  • World
    • Economy
    • Politics
    • Markets
  • videos
  • photos
  • Authors
  • More ...
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
Read in App
Business News » India News

H-1B Visa: Nasscom pays nearly Rs 1 crore to two US lobbyists in Q1 of 2017

After a layoffs in India and and visa curbs in the US, IT industry body Nasscom has stepped up its lobbying with America and has paid a total amount of $1,50,000 (nearly Rs 1 crore) to two registered lobbyists in the country in the first quarter (Q1) of 2017.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • whatapp
  • View in App
H-1B Visa: Nasscom pays nearly Rs 1 crore to two US lobbyists in Q1 of 2017
Nasscom president R Chandrashekhar with eminent leaders from the Indian IT industry at the event on Employment & Skills Imperatives on May 18, 2017. Image Source: Nasscom/Twitter
Written By: PTI
Updated: Sun, May 21, 2017
12:37 pm
Washington/New Delhi, PTI
RELATED NEWS
H-1B visas for Indian IT professionals would not come down: Nirmala Sitharaman H-1B visas for Indian IT professionals would not come down: Nirmala Sitharaman
Legislative change needed in wage structure to prevent H-1B abuse, says US Labour Department Legislative change needed in wage structure to prevent H-1B abuse, says US Labour Department
Nasscom hits back at US govt claims over Indian IT firms violating H-1B visa norms Nasscom hits back at US govt claims over Indian IT firms violating H-1B visa norms
H-1B Visa: Will US Prez Donald Trump's new executive order impact Indian IT cos? H-1B Visa: Will US Prez Donald Trump's new executive order impact Indian IT cos?
Are Indian IT firms to blame for H-1B visa restrictions? Are Indian IT firms to blame for H-1B visa restrictions?

Facing rough weather amid large-scale layoffs and visa curbs in the US, the Indian IT industry body Nasscom has stepped up its lobbying with the American lawmakers significantly with an over one-third increase in money spent on such activities.

According to the latest lobbying disclosure reports filed with the US Senate, the National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) paid a total amount of $1,50,000 (nearly Rs 1 crore) to its two registered lobbyists in the first quarter (Q1) of 2017.

This marks a significant rise from $1,10,000 paid to the two lobbyists in the previous quarter ended December 2016. The amount was same for each of the four quarter of 2016.

Among the two lobbyists, The Lande Group was paid $50,000 in January-March quarter of 2017 -- the same as the money paid in each of the four quarters of 2016.

 

However, the other lobbyist, Wexler & Walker, a unit of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, LLC, was paid $100,000 in the first quarter of 2017, as against $60,000 in the previous three-month period and in many of the previous quarters.

As per the lobbying disclosure report, the "specific lobbying issues" undertaken by this lobbyist included those related to immigration. The "general issues" included tax and trade matters.

ALSO READ: H-1B visas for Indian IT professionals would not come down: Nirmala Sitharaman 

The houses of Congress and federal agencies with whom it lobbied on behalf of Nasscom, which itself acts as a lobby group for the $150 billion Indian IT industry, included the US Senate and the US House of Representatives.

On the other hand, Lande Group covered a larger number of "specific lobbying issues", including with several federal agencies, as per its first-quarter disclosure report.

These included "high skill immigration, green cards, visa processing, US-India relations, US-India matters, tax reform, (and) border adjustment tax".

In addition to the Senate and the House of Representatives, The Lande Group also did lobbying with the White House Office, the US Trade Representative, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services and the departments of state, commerce and homeland security.

Nasscom took a delegation of the Indian IT industry earlier this year to the US to engage with members of the Trump administration on issues like clampdown on work visas and flow of skilled manpower between the two nations.

During the visit, Nasscom president R Chandrashekhar had said the debate in the US over H-1B visas has become a political and emotive issue as there is a "yawning gap" between the facts and perception and the Indian IT firms contribute immensely to the US economy and jobs creation.

He met several influential American lawmakers, opinion builders, members of the think-tank community and government officials to discuss H-1B visa issues, among other matters.

ALSO READ: Nasscom hits back at US govt claims over Indian IT firms violating H-1B visa norms 

The visit of the Nasscom delegation came in the wake of the ongoing debate in the US and moves to curtail the use of H-1B visas, widely used by Indian IT majors.

The US recently also accused top Indian IT firms TCS and Infosys of "unfairly" cornering the lion's share of the H-1B work visas by putting extra tickets in the lottery system, a charge vehemently countered by Nasscom.

Close on the heels of this accusation, Infosys went on to announce plans to hire 10,000 Americans, though this move was described by some as an act to appease US President Donald Trump's administration which has tightened the rules of H-1B visa programme to stop its 'abuse'.

Nasscom's lobbying expenses rising

An analysis of the lobbying disclosure reports filed for Nasscom shows that the Indian software industry body paid $440,000 to the two registered lobbying firms in 2016.

The Lande Group has been lobbying on behalf of Nasscom since third quarter of 2010, while Wexler & Walker registered itself as a lobbyist for the industry body in October 2015.

Previously, Hill and Knowlton had registered itself as a lobbyist for Nasscom way back in February 2003 but that association got terminated in first quarter of 2008.

Since the beginning, the lobbying issues for Nasscom have included "immigration and technology issues of interest to the Indian software industry".

The total lobbying expenses for Nasscom in the year 2015 was $270,000, while it was even lower at $140,000 in 2014 and $150,000 in 2013.

The amounts were $115,000 in 2012, $75,000 in 2011 and just $40,000 in 2010. The lobbying expenses for Nasscom stood at $60,000 in 2006, $100,000 in 2005, $180,000 in 2004 and at $200,000 in 2003. 

ALSO READ: H-1B Visa: Will US Prez Donald Trump's new executive order impact Indian IT cos?

Get Latest Business News, Stock Market Updates and Videos; Check your tax outgo through Income Tax Calculator and save money through our Personal Finance coverage. Check Business Breaking News Live on Zee Business Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube.

TAGS:
H-1B VisaEconomyITUS lobbyistsNasscomH-1B VisasNational Association of Software and Services CompaniesLobbyingThe Lande GroupDonald TrumpTCSInfosysWexler & WalkerR Chandrashekharlocal hiringh-1b visa issuesLOBBYING EXPENSESLayoffsvisa curbs
RELATED NEWS
H-1B visas for Indian IT professionals would not come down: Nirmala Sitharaman H-1B visas for Indian IT professionals would not come down: Nirmala Sitharaman
Legislative change needed in wage structure to prevent H-1B abuse, says US Labour Department Legislative change needed in wage structure to prevent H-1B abuse, says US Labour Department
Nasscom hits back at US govt claims over Indian IT firms violating H-1B visa norms Nasscom hits back at US govt claims over Indian IT firms violating H-1B visa norms
H-1B Visa: Will US Prez Donald Trump's new executive order impact Indian IT cos? H-1B Visa: Will US Prez Donald Trump's new executive order impact Indian IT cos?
Are Indian IT firms to blame for H-1B visa restrictions? Are Indian IT firms to blame for H-1B visa restrictions?

LATEST NEWS

Delhi Lockdown - Check who is allowed, who is not during a week-long lockdown in Delhi

Delhi Lockdown – Get full details on how public transport will function during the curfew period

Midcap Picks with Anil Singhvi: Astral Poly, Syngene International and Thyrocare - 3 very buzzing counters

Cipla, Cadila Healthcare, Glenmark Pharma: Technicals highlighted by Bonanza Portfolio

Mid-cap Picks with Anil Singhvi: Albert David, Grindwell Norton, Ineos Styrolution are Vikas Sethi recommendations today

PUBG Mobile Lite Update: Season 24 release date revealed, check WP rewards, APK download link and more

In chat with Anil Singhvi, Mehraboon Irani says 2nd Covid-19 wave could really affect markets

CBSE CISCE Board Exams 2021 POSTPONED: Class 10 class 12 board exam candidates must know these IMPORTANT points - check here

SIP STOCK: Anil Singhvi picks Orient Cement, says investors must make it part of their portfolio

Stock market volatility: Anil Singhvi reveals key levels to watch; says Bank Nifty will take longer to recover than Nifty

  • India News
  • World News
  • Companies News
  • Market News
  • Personal Finance News
  • Technology News
  • Automobile News
  • Small Business News
  • Income Tax Calculator
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Author
  • Rss Feed
  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal Disclaimer

Latest Trending Updates

  • EPFO
  • Budget 2020
  • Income Tax Return
  • Auto Expo 2020
  • Home Loan
  • Business News

Trending Topics

  • Income Tax
  • income Tax Calculator
  • 7th Pay Commission
  • Reserve Bank of India
  • GST
  • Latest Business News

Follow us on

zeebiz
zeebiz

Partner Sites

  • Zee News
  • Hindi News
  • Marathi News
  • Bengali News
  • Tamil News
  • Malayalam News
  • Gujarati News
  • Telugu News
  • Kannada News
  • DNA
  • WION
Copyright © Zee Media Corporation Ltd. All rights reserved