Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) recently laid off more American workers, sending a strong and clear message that the company will continue its policy of hiring many foreign workers.. However, laying off American workers in large numbers to replace them with foreign labor has become a political debate, notes a report from Breitbart.
Is Intel being unfair to employees?
Business Insider notes that even though the chipmaker is adamant about laying off American workers, it is advocating for an increase in H1B visa workers. Back in March, Sen. Jeff Sessions, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest, rebuked Intel for swapping American workers with the cheaper foreign H1B visa holders.It was also reported that Intel employees have been laid off based on a policy related to “the level of performance-based stock grants they received” instead of its standard annual review-based lay-off process. CEO Brian Krzanich reportedly acknowledged that this policy will create anger and dissatisfaction among some devoted employees, but this is how a ‘meritocracy works.’ He went on to say that the company will continue this policy in future as well. What many employees do not know is if an employee is laid off at Intel, he will never be eligible for rehire by the company.
Intel and others favoring immigration reforms
Intel. along with other tech biggies such as Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB). are advocating for comprehensive immigration reform, along with urging lawmakers to support these increases. Intel supports the I-Squared bill, which seeks to significantly increase the number of H1B visa immigrants allowed in the country.CNN Money reported that Intel is expected to cut its total workforce of 107,600 by 5%, which is 5,380 jobs. In an internal mail to employees last month, Krzanich stated the company would undertake a restructuring plan that may again require trimming of the workforce. Krzanich did not mention any specific number of job cuts, but a report by The Oregonian stated it would be approximately 3% of the total workers worldwide.
As of 12 pm EDT Wednesday, Intel shares were down 0.79% at $28.49. Year to date, the stock is down over 22%, while in the last twelve months it is down over 18%.
