ARmy Rumour SErvice

**Mad Indian** · 27-04-2012, 17:18

Our IT companies may relocate to other European countries, India warns UK - The Times of India

London: India today warned the UK that its IT majors may relocate their business to other European countries, if the British government insists on tough visa rules which affect Indian IT professionals.

The issue came up for discussion during meeting of commerce and industry minister

Anand Sharma

with UK secretary of state for business, innovation and skills

Vince Cable

and the chancellor of the exchequer

George Osborne

.

However, Osborne assured Sharma that the British government has decided not to make any change in the 'intra-company transfers' for the next two years. The proposal had upset the Indian IT industry and the government as it meant that the professionals on intra company transfers to UK would be treated "prospective immigrants".

Sharma said this rule has badly affected the performance of Indian companies operating in the UK.

"Sharma also expressed concern that this move may force Indian companies, especially IT companies to relocate to other European capital," an official statement said.

The minister also raised the issue of the restrictions imposed on non-EU immigration into Britain which is adversely affecting the operations of Indian companies here.

"He specifically referred to the
UK border agency
treating
intra-company transfers
of IT experts, professionals and highly skilled workers as prospective immigrants which has affected has badly affected the performance of Indian companies operating in the UK," it said.

Besides, Sharma also expressed concern over the issue that Indian companies who want to acquire UK firms have been facing considerable delay and long legal hassles.

"He highlighted the concerns of Indian companies who want to visit UK for business meetings and also the long delay in obtaining visa by Indian nationals," it said. He said Indian experts coming to the UK leave the country after completion of their contractual obligations with their employers in the UK and "therefore they cannot be treated as economic migrants".

Highlighting the vast contributions of Indian professionals to the UK economy, Sharma said that stoppage of post -study work permits to students has not found favourable to Indian students who are not able to recover the cost of their education in the UK universities and therefore they are now looking for options to study in other countries.

"He stressed that this development is expected to impact the UK universities where at present over 40,000 Indians students have been studying," it added.

Sharma was here for the 8th round of India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee (

JETCO

) meeting.

Bit of an old news. So what do you guys think?

**BONNACON** · 27-04-2012, 17:29

O dear, how sad. Never mind.

Methinks this is a reaction to the clamping down on bogus colleges and IT firms. HSBC and L/rover Jag don't seem to have problems.

**Mad Indian** · 27-04-2012, 17:31

Originally Posted by BONNACON

O dear, how sad. Never mind.

Methinks this is a reaction to the clamping down on bogus colleges and IT firms. HSBC and L/rover Jag don't seem to have problems.

Actually it was a reaction for the new visa rules which make the life of Indian IT professionals in UK miserable. Lets see what unfolds

**PBUH** · 27-04-2012, 17:49

Tata are shite anyway. No loss if they disappear. But all the Europeans (Capgemini etc) and Yanks (CSC, HP, Accenture etc) are at it too.

If this stops the constant offshoring of UK IT jobs to India all well and good. It's outrageous how much money is getting pumped out of this country - most of it UK Government money. All of it money that is leaving the economy forever, most to France or the US as profit , the rest to Chennai & Pune unti lthey get too expensive just like Hungary and Egypt did.

**Mad Indian** · 27-04-2012, 18:35

Originally Posted by PBUH

Tata are shite anyway. No loss if they disappear. But all the Europeans (Capgemini etc) and Yanks (CSC, HP, Accenture etc) are at it too.

If this stops the constant offshoring of UK IT jobs to India all well and good. It's outrageous how much money is getting pumped out of this country - most of it UK Government money. All of it money that is leaving the economy forever, most to France or the US as profit , the rest to Chennai & Pune unti lthey get too expensive just like Hungary and Egypt did.

Mate, i suggest you to broaden your mind and look beyond the protectionist mindset. What about the stuff UK exports? Can the Importing countries ban it too, for protecting their local goods? Tit for Tat? If UK does not respect free trade and thinks about banning imports(here Services) then what will happen if the other countries don't import your stuff?

**Donny** · 27-04-2012, 18:41

Originally Posted by PBUH

Tata are shite anyway. No loss if they disappear. But all the Europeans (Capgemini etc) and Yanks (CSC, HP, Accenture etc) are at it too.

If this stops the constant offshoring of UK IT jobs to India all well and good. It's outrageous how much money is getting pumped out of this country - most of it UK Government money. All of it money that is leaving the economy forever, most to France or the US as profit , the rest to Chennai & Pune unti lthey get too expensive just like Hungary and Egypt did.

Hmm. Interesting view on a completely different issue to the one the OP raised.

Back to topic. The government is between a rock and a hard place on the visa issue. They can't put in place immigration controls that will satisfy Daily Mail readers without upsetting the employers of mobile specialist staff, and they cant get the FDI they need for the economy with the immigration controls they promised a segment of the population to secure their vote. It'll probably end in tears....

**History_Man** · 27-04-2012, 18:47

A complete non-story; Indian students are hardly big players in the Universities sector - the Chinese have got that one sewn up quite nicely. Indian students are prolific in FE colleges and colleges of dubious merit e.g. the UK College of Excellence, undertaking non-challenging studies alongside their real intention in coming to the UK to work in McDonalds and or Tescos. The post-study work visa was wide-open to abuse. Oh, and Indian IT workers (I hesitate to use the term 'professionals' because many IMHO are absolute crap) are not business visitors - they are renumerated and therefore require work visas in order to undertake employment (gainful or otherwise) in the UK. So no, I don't feel sorry for either Indian students or Indian IT workers. Next question please.

**BONNACON** · 27-04-2012, 18:51

Originally Posted by Mad Indian

Mate, i suggest you to broaden your mind and look beyond the protectionist mindset. What about the stuff UK exports? Can the Importing countries ban it too, for protecting their local goods? Tit for Tat? If UK does not respect free trade and thinks about banning imports(here Services) then what will happen if the other countries don't import your stuff?

Might I suggest you look at protectionist measures embedded in the Indian economy. India is no friend to free trade.

**Suddick** · 27-04-2012, 18:58

Until they can write code that doesn't need extensive remediation by European and US developers they won't be too missed. Cheap and quality they don't do.

**Biscuits_AB** · 27-04-2012, 19:05

Originally Posted by History_Man

A complete non-story; Indian students are hardly big players in the Universities sector - the Chinese have got that one sewn up quite nicely. Indian students are prolific in FE colleges and colleges of dubious merit e.g. the UK College of Excellence, undertaking non-challenging studies alongside their real intention in coming to the UK to work in McDonalds and or Tescos. The post-study work visa was wide-open to abuse. Oh, and Indian IT workers (I hesitate to use the term 'professionals' because many IMHO are absolute crap) are not business visitors - they are renumerated and therefore require work visas in order to undertake employment (gainful or otherwise) in the UK. So no, I don't feel sorry for either Indian students or Indian IT workers. Next question please.

Indian IT workers....10 a penny.