In the USofA, barriers against employing highly-skilled foreign professional workers in roles as doctors and lawyers are many. While simultaneously, semi-skilled less-educated US employees are purposely targeted for wage concessions and/or job eliminations — either by the re-location of US manufacturing facilities overseas, exploiting cheap foreign labor; or alternatively by the lax enforcement of existing US employment policy applied to competitive blue collar immigrants; or more indirectly, by diluting US wage-earner production, with the importation of less expensive yet comparable foreign products.
Here is an example of protectionism serving existing US medical professionals, by steering foreign medical staff toward less desirable practice in low income neighborhoods: “When doctors emigrate” (Dec 10, 2006)
…”Under U.S. immigration rules, a foreign doctor — even if he completes his medical schooling in the U.S., or does an internship or residency at an American hospital — is obliged to return to his homeland for a period of at least two years before he can seek employment in the U.S. There is, however, an exception built into the law. The U.S. Federal Government has designated 2100 areas, mostly impoverished districts at the nadir of the economic recession, as “medically under-served”. If a foreign doctor agrees to work in one of these areas, the standard requirement, of two years outside the U.S. before working here, is lifted. The much sought-after “green card”, entitling the doctor to permanent residence in the U.S., is just a few prescriptions away.”
Another citation from H. Ronald Klasko, exposes the legal complexity and legislative constraint imposed on potential emigrant doctors. “Foreign Physicians Face Tough Immigration Hurdles”
…”Most physicians enter the United States on either J-1 or H-1B visas. The H-1B is often considered more beneficial to the physician, whereas the J-1 may be the only option offered by certain hospitals and medical schools because of fewer employer responsibilities and liabilities.
The J-1, or exchange visitor visa, is sponsored by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). This is a quasi-governmental organization that has been set up to facilitate and execute policies established by Congress and the administrative agencies that implement the immigration laws. ECFMG places strict limits on length of visa, change in programs, and moonlighting.”…
…”The H-1B visa must be sponsored by the employer. It does require various levels of employer recordkeeping, posting notices to employees, payment of prevailing wage and substantial fees paid to the government. In addition, the doctor must meet any relevant state licensing requirements.”…
…”Finally, all other physicians who wish to seek permanent residence status must go through the labor certification application procedure. This procedure requires an employer-sponsor to undertake various recruitment efforts in order to prove to the U. S. Department of Labor that the foreign physician is not taking a position away from a qualified and interested U.S. citizen or permanent resident physician.
The representation of foreign physicians and the hospitals and medical practices that employ them is a complex subspecialty within the immigration law field of practice. The advisor must be aware that rules that apply to other professions do not necessarily apply in the representation of physicians.”…
Foreign doctors should not be allowed entrance into the US without stringent performance review. Yet current US immigration policy toward medical professionals appears focused less on job proficiency and more on visa quotas, irrespective of applicant skill. Additionally, the status quo for current visa holders reward those who would remain in the US to practice medicine, but only when they choose placement in designated impoverished areas, not in direct competition with most American medical personnel.
This is not “free trade”. This is arbitrary strategy purposefully designed to price-support current doctor’s earnings in this country, while an inverse policy by US government oversight agencies implements competitive pressure on American blue collar workers — eroding wages on multiple fronts. It’s all a matter of who has access to power. Free trade truly impacts only those workers without the clout to lobby for protective practices.
Tags: free trade, protectionism