US Department of Labor proposes 11% wage increase for H-1B visa workers.

US Department of Labor proposes 11% wage increase for H-1B visa workers. New rules would raise base pay benchmarks by at least $14,500 for entry-level and experienced hires, bringing foreign worker compensation closer to parity with US employees. An H-1B worker earning $133,850 would now earn approximately $148,439. The move aims to curb visa program abuse and reduce employer incentives to displace American workers with lower-wage foreign talent. Large IT services firms, major H-1B visa users, face potential profitability pressure as salary costs exceed one-third of their expenses. The Labor Department has opened a 60-day feedback period on the proposed rules. Legal experts suggest affected companies communicate with lawmakers and regulators about potential modifications before the final rule takes effect.