TCS unfazed by US PERM suspension

Tata Consultancy Services said on Friday it does not expect its suspension from the permanent labour certification programme to impact either workforce strategy or customer engagements, adding that it would comply with any directive from the US Department of Labor.The US Labour Department on Thursday suspended eight major technology companies, including Indian software services exporters Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, HCLTech, and Cognizant from the so-called permanent labour certification programme (PERM).This effectively bars these firms from filing new applications or processing pending applications under the employment-based green card programme-after they have sponsored foreign workers on work visas such as H-1B. Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe have also been suspended from the programme."Our workforce strategy in the US is anchored in hiring local talent, supported by a robust campus recruitment model. We have built a significant local workforce across 31 offices and delivery centers throughout the country," TCS said in a filing to exchanges.TCS added it was standing by its intention to hire 15,000 workers in the United States over the next five years, to improve its local workforce. The company added its PERM applications were in single digits in the last two years.