Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has confirmed that the recent decision by the US government to suspend Permanent Labor Certification Program (PERM) applications for several major tech and IT firms will not disrupt its workforce strategy.
The US Department of Labor's suspension affects a range of companies, including Cognizant, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies, Capgemini, Microsoft, and Adobe, as part of a broader crackdown on skilled-worker immigration programs aimed at combating fraud and safeguarding American jobs. Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling stated that no new or pending permanent labor certification applications involving these companies would be processed.
Despite this move, TCS stated its PERM applications had been in single digits over the past two years, minimizing any potential impact. The company reiterated its commitment to local hiring in the US, emphasizing a robust campus recruitment model and a significant existing local workforce across 31 offices and delivery centers nationwide.
Furthermore, TCS announced its intention to hire an additional 15,000 people in the United States over the next five years. This plan is designed to further augment its local workforce and reinforce its strategy of anchoring operations with domestic talent.
The US administration's actions on Thursday represent some of the broadest measures yet against skilled-worker immigration programs, potentially cutting off a common route to permanent residency for foreign tech workers and signaling a warning to leading research universities.