Latest news with #ProtectingUSWorkersInitiative
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
US tech company penalised by Department of Justice for favouring H‑1B visa workers over American candidates
The US Justice Department has penalized Epik Solutions, a California-based tech recruiter, for discriminating against American workers in favor of H-1B visa holders. This settlement, the first under the revived "Protecting US Workers Initiative," addresses violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Epik Solutions must pay a civil penalty, revise hiring policies, and cease discriminatory advertising practices. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pay $71,916 as civil penalty to the US government Revise its hiring and recruitment policies Undergo compliance training Cease the practice of placing ads that exclude US workers Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The US Justice Department has penalised California-based tech recruiter Epik Solutions for discriminating against American workers in favour of foreign H‑1B visa holders, as per a report by the Times of India. The action marks the first settlement under the revived 'Protecting US Workers Initiative.'An investigation found that Epik Solutions violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by posting job advertisements that excluded US citizens and gave preference to H‑1B visa the terms of the settlement, the company has agreed to:The Department emphasised that this move signals stricter enforcement against discriminatory hiring.'Protecting American workers from unlawful discrimination in favour of foreign visa workers is a top priority of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division,' said assistant attorney general for civil rights, Harmeet K. Dhillon to TOI. She further stated, 'The days of the federal government looking the other way on American workforce protection are over.'The 'Protecting US Workers Initiative' was relaunched to ensure that US citizens are not unfairly excluded from employment opportunities . Epik Solutions' settlement is expected to serve as a warning to other firms employing similar practices.(With inputs from TOI)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
US Justice Department penalises company for favouring H-1B workers
FILE - The Department of Justice logo is shown on a podium during a news conference, Sept. 30, 2010, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File) The US Justice Department recently announced a settlement with Epik Solutions , a tech recruiting company based in California, for violating the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Epik Solutions was found to have favoured foreign H-1B visa holders over US workers in its recruitment practices. This settlement is significant as it's the first since the department relaunched its "Protecting US Workers Initiative," which aims to crack down on companies that illegally discriminate against American workers in favour of foreign visa workers. As part of the agreement, Epik Solutions will: * Pay $71,916 in civil penalties to the US government. * Undergo training. * Revise its employment policies. * Stop placing job advertisements that unlawfully exclude U.S. workers. "Protecting American workers from unlawful discrimination in favor of foreign visa workers is a top priority of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division," said assistant attorney general for civil rights, Harmeet K. Dhillon. She added that companies engaging in such discrimination are now on notice that "the days of the federal government looking the other way on American workforce protection are over."
