The
U.S. Department of Labor has cited Peri Software Solutions Inc. and
Sarib Perisamya, president and owner, for alleged violations of the
H-1B provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, uncovering
$1,456,422 in back wages due to 163 workers.
"The
actions of Peri Software Solutions demonstrate the kind of abuses that
our laws are designed to prevent," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L.
Solis. "Every worker deserves to be paid for his or her work, and the
Labor Department is committed to holding those companies that violate
our nation's labor laws accountable."
An investigation by the
department's Wage and Hour Division found that the Newark company
failed to pay the required prevailing wage to workers hired as computer
analysts under the H-1B program. Investigators also found that the
company forced employees to sign employment contracts and then sued
them when those contracts were broken. Due to the willful nature of the
violations, the company also has been assessed a civil monetary penalty
of $439,000 and faces a potential two-year debarment from the H-1B
program by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The H-1B
visa program permits employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in
professional occupations such as computer programmers, engineers,
physicians and teachers. H-1B workers must be paid the same wage rates
paid to U.S. workers who perform the same types of work or the
prevailing wage rate in the areas of intended employment, whichever is
higher.
The Wage and Hour Division enforces the H-1B wage
provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, in addition to other
federal laws pertaining to wage payments. For more information about
the H1-B program, call the division's toll-free helpline at
866-4US-WAGE (487-9243) or visit http://www.dol.gov/whd. The division's Northern New Jersey office can be reached at 908-317-8611.