Infosys COO Pravin Rao confirms company's H-1B clearance rates have gone up

On Saturday, IT behemoth Infosys said that acceptance rates for its H-1B visa applications in the United States have increased considerably from the first quarter of fiscal year 2021.

The company, which has increased its localization efforts in various markets, including the United States, also intends to expand recruiting "at scale" in response to strong demand for IT and digital services, according to Infosys Chief Operating Officer Pravin Rao, who spoke at the company's 40th annual general meeting.

He informed, "We have significantly localised our US operations with over 65 per cent of employees being locals.”

Over the last several years, IT firms have increased their presence in foreign markets such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia by recruiting locals to overcome visa-related obstacles.

Last year, Infosys had announced intentions to employ 12,000 American workers over the following two years, bringing its five-year hiring commitment in the nation to 25,000.

The COO while answering a question by a shareholder told, “The new US administration is reviewing prior administration agency rules that are not in effect or not yet finalised. H-1B approval rates for Infosys have also significantly increased starting quarter one of FY21 for the last four quarters."

Regarding increasing attrition rates, Rao stated that markets are opening up, demand is ramping up, and firms are recruiting in big numbers, resulting in higher attrition than in FY20.

Rao also confirmed that the firm will raise employee salaries beginning in July 2021.

He did not, however, remark on the size of the pay increase that will be provided. At the end of March 2021, Infosys' workforce was 2,59,619, with 15.2 percent voluntary attrition.

When asked about claims that big Indian IT businesses are cutting millions of jobs due to increased automation, Rao said industry organisation Nasscom has already emphasised that the IT sector has and will continue to recruit new qualified personnel.