foreign workers

The United States is suspending a permanent residency program covering Microsoft and other major IT firms, a move announced by Vice President JD Vance. The suspension affects a key pathway tech companies use to secure green cards for skilled foreign workers, and is expected to raise concerns across the technology industry about hiring and retention of immigrant talent.

The United States has announced the suspension of Cognizant, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, Capgemini and HCL from the permanent labour certification program. The move affects the ability of these major IT services firms, many of them India-headquartered, to sponsor green cards for foreign workers. The announcement, widely circulated among Indian audiences, is drawing attention to its implications for H-1B employees and the outsourcing industry.

Italy has around 2.6 million foreign workers, equal to 10.7% of total employment, according to figures circulating widely online. Their contribution to the national economy is estimated at 197 billion euros in added value, about 9.7% of the total. The figures are being shared as evidence of a paradox: a country where many fear immigration has become increasingly dependent on foreign labour for its economy.

A federal court has struck down key provisions of the H-2A agricultural guest worker wage rule, a decision with significant implications for farm employers and foreign workers in the United States. The ruling affects how wages are set for the visa program that supplies seasonal farm labor, and agricultural industry groups and worker advocates are watching closely for its impact on labor costs and pay.

Economists are examining why Switzerland and Japan, both wealthy advanced economies, have taken such different approaches to immigration. Switzerland relies heavily on foreign workers, while Japan has long maintained restrictive policies despite an ageing population. The contrast raises questions about labour shortages, cultural attitudes, and policy choices in rich countries facing similar demographic pressures.

Russia's Federal Tax Service has clarified its position on advance payments and personal income tax for foreign nationals, saying that from 2027 employers must also pay for domestic workers such as nannies and housekeepers. The announcement is drawing attention among employers of migrant workers, who face new reporting and tax obligations, and among migrants themselves concerned about the cost of staying employed legally.

A new report outlines five immigration developments expected to shape employer compliance in 2026. The piece is aimed at HR teams and legal advisers preparing for shifting rules on work authorization, hiring foreign nationals, and enforcement. Businesses that sponsor foreign workers are watching these changes closely as new requirements take shape heading into the year.

The Department of Homeland Security has put forward a proposal that would eliminate deference to prior H-1B visa approval decisions, according to Bloomberg Law. Under the change, immigration adjudicators could revisit and re-examine previously approved H-1B petitions rather than following earlier determinations. The move is likely to draw attention from employers and foreign workers who rely on the skilled-visa program, as it could increase uncertainty around visa renewals and extensions.

The Trump administration has reportedly suspended Microsoft, Adobe and several Indian companies from a US green card program, blocking them from sponsoring permanent residency for foreign workers. The move affects some of the largest users of employment-based visas, particularly Indian IT firms that rely heavily on skilled foreign labor. The suspension is drawing attention from tech companies, immigrant workers and immigration policy observers.

The FBI dismantled more than 40 laptop farms across Texas last month, seizing nearly 200 computer devices. Authorities say the network enabled North Korean operatives to obtain remote IT jobs at U.S. companies using stolen American identities, with the illicit wages funneled to fund Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The operation sheds light on the scale of foreign remote-work schemes targeting American firms and the identities of U.S. citizens.

The Trump administration has suspended Indian IT giants and other technology firms from the US Green Card programme, according to breaking news reports from India. The move affects major companies that sponsor large numbers of skilled foreign workers for permanent US residency, and is drawing significant attention in India's technology sector, which depends heavily on American visa pathways for its workforce and clients.

The Trump administration has frozen green card applications for Microsoft and other IT firms while opening probes into universities, prompting warnings from the tech industry that the visa crackdown could drive skilled talent abroad. Reports also highlight an apparent split: Microsoft faces both the immigration crackdown and recognition, raising questions about the policy's targeting and its impact on US competitiveness.

The Department of Homeland Security has finalized a rule eliminating the automatic extension of work permits for immigrants whose renewal applications are pending. The change means foreign workers could face gaps in their legal employment authorization while awaiting paperwork processing. Immigration advocates and employers are expected to scrutinize the rule's impact on businesses reliant on foreign labor.

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed eliminating the USCIS deference policy, under which officials generally extend approval for nonimmigrant worker visas unless circumstances have changed. Ending the policy would allow renewed scrutiny of extension applications, potentially making it harder for employers to keep foreign workers on H-1B and similar visas. Immigration practitioners and businesses are watching the proposal closely for its impact on skilled-worker hiring.

Foreign workers in Singapore who leave children behind in their home countries are facing the emotional strain of parenting from afar. The Straits Times examines how these parents cope with years of separation, relying on phone calls and occasional visits while missing key moments in their children's lives, and the toll this distance takes on families.

An American doctor has tested positive for Ebola while working in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where an outbreak of the virus is under way. The news has drawn international attention as health authorities work to contain the spread and monitor those who may have been in contact with the infected medic.

A new analysis argues that English language teachers could help spread the Palestine solidarity movement within their workplaces and challenge British imperialism. Published via the TEFL Workers Union under the title 'Books Not Guns', the piece links UK foreign policy and the arms industry to classroom work, calling on education workers to organise around Palestine and Gaza.

A Straits Times feature examines the emotional toll on migrant workers in Singapore who raise children from thousands of kilometres away. Under the headline 'Wish Papa was here', the piece highlights fathers and mothers missing milestones back home, relying on video calls and remittances to stay present in their children's lives. It spotlights the human cost behind Singapore's dependence on foreign labour, resonating with readers familiar with separated families.

Donald Trump has moved to bar major technology companies from a key immigration program, according to a report by Information Age, the news outlet of the Australian Computer Society. The decision targets the firms that rely most heavily on skilled visas to recruit foreign workers. The move is expected to complicate hiring pipelines for the US technology sector and has drawn attention from industry and immigration observers.

Foreign residents in Japan are being advised on how to navigate the permanent residency application process, including common mistakes that lead to rejection or delay. Guidance covers eligibility periods, paperwork requirements, tax and pension compliance, and how gaps or inconsistencies in documentation can derail an otherwise straightforward case. Interest comes amid growing numbers of long-term foreign workers seeking to settle in Japan permanently.

Indian IT giant Infosys says a new Trump administration crackdown on green cards will have 'no material impact' on its business, according to a report by NDTV. The announcement reassures investors and staff about the company's exposure to US immigration policy changes affecting skilled foreign workers.