MEA Calls JD Vance’s ‘Indentured Servants’ Remark on H-1B Workers Deeply Offensive

By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON –The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday has condemned US Vice President JD Vance’s description of H-1B visa workers as “indentured servants,” called the terminology “deeply offensive” and stated that it carries painful historical and colonial legacy connotations.

MEA noted that Vance’s remarks ignored the contributions of Indian professionals to the US economy and innovation ecosystem. It added that talent mobility benefits both countries.

“We have also seen some comments in this context by the US Vice President. We believe that such descriptions are unwarranted and ignore the fact that Indian professionals in the United States are highly educated and skilled contributors to its economy and innovation ecosystem,” read a statement from the MEA.

“Indeed, the history of the United States itself has been shaped by generations of immigrants whose labour, enterprise and innovation have contributed to its growth and prosperity. Resorting to terminology that carries painful historical and colonial legacy connotations is deeply offensive,” it added.

JD Vance addressed a news conference on visa fraud and called H-1B visa workers as “indentured servants”.

He even accused foreign outsourcing firms of undercutting American workers’ wages.

“If you are working as an H-1B visa in the United States of America, you’re earning $20,000 less than an American citizen hired in the same position. If you were brought in by one of these foreign outsourcing firms, you’re making $48,000 less than an American citizen in a similar position,” Vance said.

“So, I’m sure that everybody here understands the game that is being played. You bring in indentured servants from outside the country, you lay off American workers and, if you’re a corporation, you make a ton of money by under cutting the wages of American workers, replacing them with people who frankly shouldn’t be in the United States of America to begin with,” he added.

MEA also addressed the US Department of Labor’s decision regarding the Permanent Labor Certification programme for certain companies. It has clarified that PERM is distinct from the H-1B visa programme.

“We are aware of the U.S. Department of Labor’s decision concerning the Permanent Labor Certification programme for certain companies,” the MEA said.

“It should be noted that PERM is distinct from the H-1B visa programme. The suspension of PERM applications does not, by itself, affect the validity of existing H-1B visas or the status of H-1B visa holders and their dependents, though there could be some impact on the permanent-residency/Green Card process of eligible employees of the affected companies,” it added.

The Ministry of External Affairs noted that the movement of skilled professionals contributes to economic growth, innovation and employment in both countries.

“It should also be clear that talent mobility adds value to both economies. While it creates opportunities for Indians, it equally helps US companies with cutting-edge talent, innovation, research, productivity, competitiveness and job creation, besides creating shareholder wealth in the US,” the statement said.

“This is therefore an area of tremendous mutual benefit for the two countries and our expectation is that all stakeholders in this process can appreciate this fact. The steps announced by the US do not advance the shared ambitions of both countries,” it added.