FROM OUR BUREAU Bangalore In a retort tinged with surprise and anger, Infosys Ltd on Friday denied misusing B- 1 or H1- B visas to send its employees to the US for onsite work. But what has shocked Infosys is that the allegation was squea
ked by an alt39alt39alt39alt39insideralt39 – its consultant in the US, Jay Palmer.
Infosys chief executive S. D. Shibulal said ” We do not have a policy to use the B- 1 visa to circumvent the H- 1B visa. Similarly there is no policy to misuse the H1- B programme.” The new controversy arose after the US television channel Commercial Broadcasting Service ( CBS) quoted Palmer as saying that Infosys brought Indian workers illegally to the US and often abused business visa rules requiring foreign workers to be paid US market rates.
Shibulal strongly denied charges by its consultant that Indias second largest IT bellwether abused B- 1 visas meant for business consultations or attending training courses. Asked if Palmer would be sacked as its consultant in light of the allegations he made against the company, Shibulal said he would not like to comment as the matter ( charges) was pending in the court and was hence sub- judice.
” On occasions where individuals have reported seeing or hearing of employees who may have acted in ways inconsistent with our policy, we investigated them and have taken disciplinary action, including dismissal from the company,” Shibulal asserted.
Palmer also alleged that Indian workers on his team were paid substantially less than an American would have made in the same job.
PALMER alleged that Infosys brought in Indian workers illegally to US and often abused business visa rules requiring foreign workers to be paid US market rate
