India Seeks to Counter Possible Backlash onMigration of High

India Seeks to Counter Possible Backlash onMigration of High-Tech¹ Jobs

 

Anjana Pasricha

India is asking Asian countries to resist a potential backlash in developed nations as Western companies move technology jobs to India and other low-cost destinations.

India's Communication and Information Technology Minister Arun Shourie wants Asian countries to work out a common strategy to counter growing public concern in Britain and the United States about job losses overseas.

He was speaking in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad at a recent meeting of Asian information technology ministers.

In recent years, multinational² companies have been moving work such as customer support, software research, design and development to cheaper destinations. More than half of all Fortune 500 companies say they are expanding their development centers outside Western countries.

Much of this work is flowing into countries such as India, China and the Philippines, where skilled technology workers are available for cheaper wages.

In Britain, the flight of jobs has sparked heated debate and protests by labor³ unions. Several states in United States are considering legislation to protect local jobs.

India is worried by what it sees as an emerging protectionist trend.

Mr. Shourie says Western countries should not expect developing countries to open their markets if they erect⁴ barriers against outsourcing.

Officials from countries such as Israel and China also say there should be no attempts to restrict the international flow of jobs in a world trying to liberalize trade rules.

The head of India's National Association of Software and Service Companies, Kiran Karnik, says India is anxious to protect the advantages offered by its skilled and cheap workforce⁵.

"Whereas some countries have natural comparative advantages in goods, some countries like India have advantages in services, and in the process of negotiations⁶ in places like WTO [World Trade Organization] we should make sure these interests are balanced," he said.

Mr. Karnik also says more jobs will be created in Western countries as outsourcing helps companies save money.

"And if anything the process of outsourcing, which is one that increases efficiency, and brings in more profits so that they can be reinvested in creating other jobs and growth opportunities," he added.

Western companies have hired nearly 200,000 Indian workers in recent years to handle much of their customer support and software operations. The figure is expected to increase to one million by 2008.

 

 

注释：

backlash [5bAklAF] n. 后冲

Arun Shourie  阿伦·绍里耶，印度信息产业部长。

strategy [5strAtidVi] n. 策略，军略

Hyderabad [5haidErEbB:d] 海得拉巴，巴基斯坦南部城市。

multinational [mQltI5nAFEn(E)l] adj. 多国的，跨国公司的

flight [flait] n. 追赶，追逐

spark [spB:k] vt. 引起，触发

protest [prE5test] n. 抗议

labor union  工会

protectionist [prEJ5tekFEnIst] adj. 保护贸易论的

erect [i5rekt] vt. 树立，建立

outsourcing [5aJt9sR:sIN] n. （商）外部采办，外购

restrict [ris5trikt] vt. 限制，约束

India's National Association of Software and Service Companies 　印度软件和资讯服务公司全国协会

1 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

2 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

4 erect   

n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的

参考例句：

• She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头，把背挺得笔直。
• Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。

5 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

6 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。