A recent report by researchers from George Mason University, Columbia University, the University of Hong Kong, and Arizona State University revealed that Deloitte paid newly hired accountants with H-1B visas an estimated 10% less than U.S. workers in similar roles. The study, published in the Journal of Business Ethics on Sept. 26, raised concerns about the efficacy of regulations intended to prevent wage discrepancies between H-1B visa holders and U.S. workers.
Using 2005 salary data, which was part of a hack in 2014, the researchers inferred H-1B visa status through U.S. Department of Labor data. Deloitte, however, disputed the findings, stating that the dataset was incomplete and unvalidated.
The research explored whether U.S. accounting firms hire H-1B workers to address a shortage of CPA-ready professionals or to reduce wages. Deloitte responded, emphasizing that they comply with immigration regulations, provide competitive wages, and hire thousands of U.S. workers each year.
The H-1B visa program, established by the Immigration Act of 1990, allows employers to hire foreign workers for specialty positions when U.S. workers are unavailable. The program includes protections to ensure that H-1B workers are paid at least the prevailing wage for their roles. The report noted that the dependency of H-1B workers on their employers could create a power imbalance, potentially leading to lower wages and limited negotiation power for these workers.
