IT jobs 'lost to cheap labour' -

**swamp** · 3 June 2009, 10:00

Plenty quickness, much cheapness.

**Troll** · 3 June 2009, 10:05

Groundhog day...

**malvolio** · 3 June 2009, 10:40

I'm intrigued to see how BT will defend itself when someone sues them for breaking the labour rules. Clearly there was local skilled labour available, since they just sacked them all to bring in the Tech Mahindra people. And if it's simply cost-cutting, why not offer the reduced rate to the sitting contractors first anyway? £220 a day is less than £400 but rather more than £0, after all.

**expat** · 3 June 2009, 10:41

Originally posted by malvolio View Post

I'm intrigued to see how BT will defend itself when someone sues them for breaking the labour rules. Clearly there was local skilled labour available, since they just sacked them all to bring in the Tech Mahindra people. And if it's simply cost-cutting, why not offer the reduced rate to the sitting contractors first anyway? £220 a day is less than £400 but rather more than £0, after all.

Er, that would be tantamount to setting local rates according Indian standards, rather than setting rates for insourcing according to local standards, which is what should happen.

**TheRefactornator** · 3 June 2009, 10:46

Originally posted by malvolio View Post

I'm intrigued to see how BT will defend itself when someone sues them for breaking the labour rules. Clearly there was local skilled labour available, since they just sacked them all to bring in the Tech Mahindra people. And if it's simply cost-cutting, why not offer the reduced rate to the sitting contractors first anyway? £220 a day is less than £400 but rather more than £0, after all.

Defence? None required. It will not be challenged and you can save this thread so you can quote me on this statement in future. I wouldn't bother because you'll never get the opportunity.

Originally posted by expat View Post

Er, that would be tantamount to setting local rates according Indian standards, rather than setting rates for insourcing according to local standards, which is what should happen.

Ok so your point is?

**malvolio** · 3 June 2009, 11:23

Originally posted by TheRefactornator View Post

Defence? None required. It will not be challenged and you can save this thread so you can quote me on this statement in future. I wouldn't bother because you'll never get the opportunity.

OK, but it miught take a while. The Migration Advisory Committee is looking at both this specific caes and the wider abuse we keep seeing. They can't sue BT, but any of the displaced freelancers can, and would probably get backing to do so: bet none of them do though.

However the MAC can require any imported staff to be returned if there is a breach of the regulations. They can also change the rules to make it even harder. Just don't expect to see it happen this year.

**M_B** · 3 June 2009, 11:30

Originally posted by malvolio View Post

I'm intrigued to see how BT will defend itself when someone sues them for breaking the labour rules. Clearly there was local skilled labour available, since they just sacked them all to bring in the Tech Mahindra people. And if it's simply cost-cutting, why not offer the reduced rate to the sitting contractors first anyway? £220 a day is less than £400 but rather more than £0, after all.

They werent sacked so I can't see how any labour rules may have been broken.

**malvolio** · 3 June 2009, 11:53

Originally posted by M_B View Post

They werent sacked so I can't see how any labour rules may have been broken.

You can't bring in non-EU workers to fill roles where there are EU workers available to do so at the prevailing market rate. Clearly there are, since they just sacked them all. Therefore, they are bringing in the non-EU team illegally. Nobody really believes that bit about "specialist skills" either; that is just another blatant attempt to bend the rules and save some money on the NHS programme that is already £12bn overspent.

**Sysman** · 3 June 2009, 12:06

Originally posted by malvolio View Post

You can't bring in non-EU workers to fill roles where there are EU workers available to do so at the prevailing market rate. Clearly there are, since they just sacked them all. Therefore, they are bringing in the non-EU team illegally. Nobody really believes that bit about "specialist skills" either; that is just another blatant attempt to bend the rules and save some money on the NHS programme that is already £12bn overspent.

Which is where I don't expect complaints to get anywhere; it's more likely that they'll just get quietly buried.

IT jobs 'lost to cheap labour' -