Trump administration issues final wage rules for H-1B and green card holders

The outgoing Trump administration is leaving no stones unturned to fulfil its ‘protectionist’ agenda. Late on Tuesday night – India time, the US department of labour announced the introduction of final wages rules, which hiked the prevailing wages for those working in the US on H 1 B visas or holding employment-based green cards. The new rule, which will be published in the federal register on January 14, is the second attempt by the Trump administration to hike the wages for foreign workers – such as those under the H 1 B or PERM labour certification program. The first attempt to do so via a hastily introduced interim final rule, which came into effect on October 8, last year, was scuttled by three district courts in lawsuits filed by plaintiffs from the technology sector, education sector and non-profits.