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Comment by btipling | Hacker News Reader

> Since companies can hire a programmer from India or Russia for 1/3 the cost of a US worker, that's what happens.

This is illegal, so no, it's not what happens.

Source? Most tech companies I've worked at here in the Bay Area have either a few contracted engineers in developing countries for a reduced rate, or contact with foreign firms that have very low rates. It's a global market, man.

There is a difference between contracting work offshore (which can be done for pennies) to bringing contractors here (there are specific rules; the upshot of which means that they are not as cheap as one might imagine).

About half way through this video (its from the Australian ABC) there's hidden footage of a lawyer in the US teaching employers how get around hiring laws.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2013/s3786315.htm

"In May, 2013 the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, in its extensive coverage of the hiring of temporary foreign workers in Canada and the unemployment issues faced by Canadians , reported that TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) rarely hires skilled experienced Canadians while advertising open positions in Canada." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tata_Consultancy_Services#Hirin...

Tata Consultancy Services is one of India's biggest IT company's.

In Australia its exploitation of 457 visa's. Which is if you have adequately looked for locally for talent but cant find any; you can hire abroad. However as seen in the video, the companies don't look adequately and import cheaper talent.

If I remember correctly Robert Cringely has talked about similar issues with IBM and the US.

If the programmer continues to live in India or Russia, is it illegal? (I would be very surprised to learn that it is.)

I'm pretty sure the author means "companies can hire a programmer IN India or Russia for 1/3 the cost of a US worker"

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