Biting into bytes

Software exports from India< the computer software industry in India feels threatened by a bill in the us , which if enacted, would affect the country's software exports to the us . According to the National Association of Software and Service Companies ( nasscom ), the bill, seeking to amend the Immigration and Nationality act of us , would increase the financial and administrative costs of hiring Indian software professionals.

"The us is the biggest market for Indian software exports. The increased burden placed on a us company while hiring an Indian professional would hamper the free flow of software trade between India and the us ," says Kewang Mehta, executive director of nasscom .

If the bill is enacted, a dependent employer will have to pay a special fee to a private fund if he wants to hire a foreign national. The private fund would be dedicated to increasing competitiveness of us workers and reducing the dependency on hiring foreign nationals in the industry.