Government rushes to make GCCs absorb highly skilled workers from US

NEW DELHI: Over 5 lakh Indians could be hit by the Trump administration's decision to impose a hefty $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, prompting India's IT ministry to go into mission mode.

The ministry has begun coordination with the Indian embassy in Washington DC and is working to ease the entry of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) to absorb high-skilled workers who may return due to the US order.Top sources told TOI govt has reached out to industry body NASSCOM and major IT companies that have a large footprint in the US in terms of manpower and business. "The immediate priority is to address potential dislocation of both businesses and professionals," a senior official said.India's IT exports to the US exceed $100 billion, and thousands of Indian professionals there will be directly affected once Trump's executive order takes effect. Major US tech and financial firms such as Amazon, Microsoft and JP Morgan have advised H-1B staff not to leave America or to return before the Sept 21 deadline. The IT ministry has raised concerns with other ministries and diplomatic channels to ensure India can absorb skilled workers if they come back.

"We will see how we can make life easier for GCCs to set up in India. It's an opportunity for more GCCs," the source said. "We will do a range of things to support the industry."Officials also believe the US decision could hurt American companies hard. "They are reducing their own competitiveness for whatever reasons. They think they are protecting jobs for Americans, but they are adding to their costs," the source said.Govt feels the move underscores the need for Indian IT firms to shift towards more strategic, high-end work instead of remaining primarily a back-end support industry.