With an objective of empowering the knowledge workers and to identify gaps in information, NOSTOPS has worked on various topics to bring awareness to the issues leading to the digital divide between the working classes in The Americas. Focussing on the core issues of Wage discrimination and abuse of guestworker rights has been a consistent topic of conversation. Below is a brief journey since it's inception in 2004 - (Most relevant links updated). NOSTOPS founded in April of 2004. Joined forces with Rediff and started the American work visa related open Q& A series that continued to operate till 2007: When to apply for US work visas: NOW https://m.rediff.com/getahead/2007/mar/08visa.htm
Questions to ask your H-1B visa sponsor
https://m.rediff.com/getahead/2007/dec/12abr1.htmWant to settle in the US?
https://m.rediff.com/getahead/2005/oct/13abr.htm
Answered queries from ‘stranded’ individuals and victims of abuse (employer issues, immigration / visa issues. Published book “American Work Permit - Official Rules & Regulations of American work visas” Liaison with Department of Labor, and Department of Justice Officials to provide evidence of visa misuse. Testified against work visa program abuse and met with the Senator’s and policy makers at Capitol Hill, Washington DC to show evidence of how there was large-scale recruitment fraud. Initiated regular updates on the website ( www.nostops.org/ ) about fraudulent activities to alert Indian workers seeking foreign employment.
Whistleblower activities
Joined hands with Bright Future Jobs as an American lobbying partner to end the xenophobic anti-guest worker sentiments. Brought the concept of ‘dual employment‚ in focus
Provided evidence of worker abuse Recieved media coverage on, ‘The H-1B Equation,’ in the Computer World Magazine in Washington DC:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/100059/The_H_1B_Equation?pageNumber=2
NOSTOPS members participated in media interviews to bring forth instances of abuse and involuntary servitude amongst guest workers.
Financial Express - Indian techies in US plan for sick-in strike
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/indian-techies-in-us-plan-for-sickin-strike/92968/0
American Renaissance - Are South Asians Missing in the Immigration Fight?http://www.amren.com/news/2006/07/are_south_asian/
Featured on CNBC’s ‘Uncovered’ program for a sting operation on bogus recruitment agents in Indian metros.
H 1B visa racket busted in US, 11 Indians arrested
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uaofpy3D-oE
Visa Consultants selling H-1b visas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOqOxYr4F18
Initiated closure & arrest of fraudulent companies after inspecting employment contracts received from NOSTOPS members. Partnered and promoted www.goolti.com to provide instances of victimization for the Dept. of labor field officers to further investigate.
Exposed employer contractual bondage and the related visa scamming abuse Procured employment contract of Vision Systems Group leading to a federal lawsuit and closing of the company:
Black Alliance for Just Immigration - http://www.blackalliance.org/baji-in-the-news/
Interview with 94.1 FM on the impact of the U.S. government’s H1B visas for temporary immigrant workers, June 6, 2007.
http://www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?arch=20600
Provided evidence of staffing only (visa sponsoring companies) bypassing local talent and hiring fresh graduates off campus from India and paying them low salaries as compared to American workers.
Evidenced the loophole where the petitioning employers could legally circumvent not paying the promised wage level as mandated by the Dept of Labor and getting a petition approved for a citizen from overseas. Justified how companies could bypass available local talent and source fresh new hires off campus from India. Senators Target Visa ‘Loopholes’ - Business Week -
America’s High Tech Sweatshops http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_41/b4150034732629.htm
Visa Abuse and Fraud Prevention Act of 2007 -
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/110/s1035
Whistleblower activities:
Inspected NOSTOPS members’ employment contracts from American staffing agencies willing to sponsor a work visa irrespective of a job. Shared these contracts internally with American partner organizations and vetted for correctness. Fraud was identified and employment contracts leading to labor bondage and promissory sums upwards of lakhs of rupees were documented.
Commissioned a ‘Migration Studies’ program in partnership with a leading Law School at Pune, India. Monitored online job posts seeking H-1B applicants only bypassing local talent as well as existing unemployed H-1B workers. Found out that American employers were posting job ads in Indian career portals targeting Indian workers, excluding American workers as well as the benched existing H-1b visa holders present in America to even apply for these jobs in America. Documented and communicated the findings with American tech worker partner organizations and a series of media stories were commissioned to bring awareness to these issues of bypassing local talent and creating segregation of workers both foreign guest workers as well as local citizens.
Media coverage:
Rediff - Want a job Overseas? Beware Of Fraud -
http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2009/aug/28career-overseas-job-beware-of-fraud.htm
Worked with the State Dept & Homeland Agency Officials to monitor and report fraudulent activities on job portals. Huffington Post - Going Political, not Postal -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/donna-conroy/going-political–-not-pos_b_511585.html
Worked with the State Dept & Homeland Agency Officials to monitor and report fraudulent activities on job portals. Huffington Post - Going Political, not Postal -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/donna-conroy/going-political–-not-pos_b_511585.html
Initiated a series of interviews to publish views and opinions of the workers on the 20th Anniversary of the H-1B program -
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9196620/H_1B_The_voices_behind_the_visa
Highlighted the growing unemployment amongst experienced H1-B visa holders through interviews. H-1B at 20: How the ‘tech worker visa’ is remaking IT in America
H_1B visa data Visual and interactive tools
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9196283/H_1B_visa_data_Visual_and_interactive_tools
Media coverage:
Misuse of Visas might be widespread – Live Mint -
http://www.livemint.com/Home-Page/P6Sg9jfxydefuIscgp6k6H/Misuse-of-US-visas-may-be-widespread.html
Monitored fraudulent online job postings by American employers targeting Indian job seekers on Indian job boards and excluding American workers and the benched existing H-1b visa holders present in America.
Communicated the findings with American tech worker partner organizations and a series of media stories were commissioned to bring awareness to these issues of bypassing local talent and creating segregation of workers both foreign guest workers as well as local citizens.
Initiated a partnership with Shine.com, a Hindustan Times Initiative, to promote its job fair in the United States with jobs in India for the returning workers. Promoted the HT initiative open job fair for American as well as the returning Indian workers to send a message of “circular migration” instead of the typical “reverse brain drain” of its knowledge capital between US and India.
Blog on Times Of India - Titled “Green Carrot” -
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/green-carrot-americas-work-visa-crisis/
Promoted the Hindustan Times initiative in the United States -
Feb 2014, awarded the Karmaveer Chakra Puraskar for Social Justice by International Confederation Of NGOs. Partnerships with Programmers Guild and Washington Tech Alliance over a professional labor boycott against Manpower, IBM and Infosys Hidden Abroad: Manpower’s Want Ads Reveal ‘No Americans Need Apply’ For Upcoming Jobs In Fiscal Year 2015,” -
Released a joint Press Release to boycott employers against wage discrimination Blog on Times Of India - Titled “Green Carrot” -
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/green-carrot-americas-work-visa-crisis
Indian Hustle: How Fraudsters Prey on Would-be US Tech Workers - CNN Report , Global Post and 40 other media -
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1095562
https://www.mintpressnews.com/indian-hustle-fraudsters-prey-us-tech-workers/179755/
U.S tech worker groups boycott Infosys, IBM and Manpower - Business Standard, India Abroad, The Hindu, Computer World and 74 other news channels -
1. From techies in India to software slaves in US
2. Totalization Agreement : A glimmer of hope for Indian techies in the US
http://www.computerworld.in/feature/totalization-agreement-glimmer-hope-indian-techies-us
3. From the Newsroom: US judge dismisses harassment case against Infosys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKqy--uMirg&index=6&list=PL378E051CFAC88790
H1-B Visa Issue: What can India do?
https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/green-carrot-americas-work-visa-crisis/h1b-visa-issue-what-can-india-do/ Digital India: Bridging the digital divide
Digital India: Bridging the digital divide NDTV : Premium H1B Visas Suspended: Should Indian Workers Panic?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7WHACBgixs&index=5&list=PL378E051CFAC88790
US has no place for Indian computer programmers, coders
Tough times ahead! Oracle lawsuit portends legal woes for Indian IT
Oracle lawsuit shows tough times ahead for Indian IT
US clears air around H-1B visa with policy memorandum, computer programmers won't be eligible
US immigration department calls for greater scrutiny of third party H-1B workers
Indian techies nervous about stay in Donald Trump's America; mull passage back home
Future tense! Indian techies, students in US could face tough times
H-1B visa: US move on pay will hit Indian IT firms
Is Trump really the bad guy for Indian IT? Take cue from Oracle lawsuit
Bill seeking to raise salary of H-1B visa holders 'driven by myths', says Nasscom
Salil Parekh takes charge: Will he continue with Vishal Sikka's vision …
IT companies should start caring for their employees and visa orphans
Putting 'Americans First' benefits India
H1-B visa issue: India needs to lobby harder to be heard by the US
Indian coders seen losing it to sons of the soil
Australians First – new visa program to invite foreign workers
The H-1B problem – Carrot of the Green Card
Indian techies are losing out on all major markets
https://content.timesjobs.com/indian-techies-are-losing-out-on-all-major-markets/articleshow/58254821.cms >
Half million American workers keep fingers crossed as White House decides on H-1B
Today, your personal brand is all that matters
India to supply workers to the world by 2022
Now, a professional, open registry will address work visa frauds, help connect with employers
Vulnerable employment and the rise in gig economy https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/green-carrot-americas-work-visa-crisis/vulnerable-employment-and-the-rise-in-gig-economy/
Now, a professional registry with address work visa frauds and help connect employers https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/technology/now-a-professional-open-registry-will-address-work-visa-frauds-help-connect-with-employers-2837621.html
America’s demand for skilled workers could look a lot different in 2019
Are patents necessary for innovation or are they designs for granting monopolies?
Campus incubators in India offering equity to students are on the rise as colleges encourage start ups
The India sale is on: Mergers and acquisitions
Covid crisis : The best time to being an entrepreneur is now !
The India story – Economic revolution and the need for a managed labour policy
Study Abroad: STEM scarcity opens opportunities for students seeking American education
https://educationtimes.com/article/65780187/76038179#gsc.tab=0
Unstamped visa holders, new applicants in a fix over Trump's order
Can the H-1B visa survive American nationalism?
https://qz.com/india/1915511/how-the-h-1b-visa-has-shaped-america-and-impacted-the-world
NOSTOPS launches platform for student entrepruners to seek funding
Universities encourage student entrepreneurs to boost startup culture
In US layoffs, more poignant stories and helplines emerge -