Cambridge, Mass.-based international IT company agrees to pay $2.4 million to underpaid H-1B non-immigrant workers following U.S. Labor Department investigation

BOSTON — Patni Computer Systems Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., has agreed to pay more than $2.4 million to 607 non-immigrant workers following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor.

An investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division found that computer professionals employed under the H-1B visa program by Patni were not paid required wages for the period between January 2004 and December 2005.

"The department is committed to vigorously enforcing the H-1B provisions that guard against employers undercutting American workers by underpaying temporary foreign workers," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

The H-1B visa program permits employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in professional occupations such as computer programmers, engineers, physicians and teachers. H-1B workers must be paid at least the same wage rates as are paid to U.S. workers who perform the same types of work or the prevailing wages in the areas of intended employment.

The Wage and Hour Division enforces the H-1B wage provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, in addition to other federal laws pertaining to wage payments. The Labor Department's Web site provides detailed information about hiring foreign workers at www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/hiring.cfm.

For more information, please visit www.wagehour.dol.gov or call toll-free at (866) 4US-WAGE (487-9243).

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