Tesla CEO Elon Musk has defended the H-1B visa program, saying the United States
has greatly benefited from skilled workers coming from India.
Speaking on a podcast with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Musk said America
needs highly skilled Indian workers now more than ever.However, he also pointed
out that some outsourcing companies misuse the H-1B system, and he called for
reforms to stop such misuse instead of ending the program.
Musk said that India has given a lot of talent to the U.S., and added that his
companies often struggle to hire people for specialised roles because there are
not enough skilled workers available.
His comments come at a time when President Donald Trump’s second term has brought
stricter rules for the H-1B program, even though the government still recognises
the need for skilled foreign workers.
The H-1B visa, introduced under the Immigration Act of 1990, allows U.S. companies
to hire foreign professionals for specialised jobs.