特朗普將簽署行政令收緊H 1B簽證計劃
Donald Trump is set to order a new crackdown on a controversial visa programme for skilled workers on Tuesday as well as launch a push for US government agencies to buy more domestically-produced products in an attempt to fulfil promises to abide by a “Buy American/Hire American” credo.
唐納德?特朗普(Donald Trump)週二將下令對一項面向技術工人的有爭議的簽證計劃作出新的限制，同時還將推動美國政府機構採購更多美國國內生產的產品，以求兌現其遵守“買美國貨/僱美國人”信條的承諾。The signing of the latest executive order is due to come during a visit by the US president to the Kenosha, Wisconsin, headquarters of the Snap-on tool company and marks his latest effort to maintain the appeal to working class voters that helped him to the White House.
這位美國總統將在視察工具公司實耐寶(Snap-on)總部所在地威斯康星州基諾沙(Kenosha)時簽署這項最新的行政令，此舉標誌着他力求保持對工薪階層選民吸引力的最新努力。特朗普能夠入住白宮，離不開工薪階層選民的幫助。It also comes just days after he drew criticism from labour unions and economic nationalists in his base for reversing a campaign pledge to label China a currency manipulator. That and other signals have been read as signs that the former reality TV star is bowing to internationalist moderates within his White House on economic policy and walking away from the populist promises that got him elected.
幾天前，特朗普因違背了將中國列爲匯率操縱國的競選承諾，而招致其基本盤中工會和經濟民族主義者的批評。這位前電視真人秀明星釋放的這一信號以及其他信號已被解讀爲，他在經濟政策上正向其政府內的國際主義溫和派人士低頭，並且正在背離令他當選的民粹主義承諾。
Administration officials said the executive order was aimed at ending fraud and other abuses of the H-1B visa programme used by many Silicon Valley companies and outsourcing giants such as Infosys to bring in foreign workers. It is in high demand with applications earlier this month reaching the annual quota of 85,000 visas in four days.
特朗普政府官員表示，這項行政令旨在終結欺詐和其他濫用H-1B簽證計劃的行爲。該計劃被許多硅谷公司和Infosys等外包業巨頭用來引進外國勞工。H-1B簽證的需求量很大，本月早些時候，其申請數量在四天內就達到了8.5萬份簽證的年度配額。Rather than award the visas via a random lottery, the administration wants to use a system that better rewards candidates with higher skills and advanced degrees and stops driving down wages for American workers.
特朗普政府不希望通過隨機抽籤的方式頒發簽證，而希望採用一種能夠更好地獎勵擁有較高技能和高級學位的申請人、避免壓低美國工人工資水平的制度。More than 80 per cent of the workers now on H-1B visas earn less than the US median wage for their jobs, a senior administration official said. Just 5 per cent have earnings in the highest wage tier.
一位高級別政府官員表示，目前擁有H-1B簽證的勞工當中，有逾80%的人工資低於同崗位美國工人工資中位數。只有5%的H-1B勞工工資處於最高薪資層級。“The result of that is that workers are often brought in well below market rates to replace American workers,” the official told reporters.
這名官員向記者們表示：“其結果是，這些勞工往往被以遠低於市場價的工資水平引進，用來代替美國工人。”The executive order has limits with any major changes requiring action by Congress. And business groups are likely to fight any legislation ending the programme. But administration officials said after years of lobbying by labour unions and other interest groups, Congress appeared ready to embrace reforms.
這項行政令存在侷限，因爲任何重大變革都需國會採取行動。此外，企業團體很可能會努力對抗任何終結H-1B簽證計劃的法案。不過，政府官員們表示，在工會和其他利益團體開展多年遊說之後，國會似乎已準備支持這項改革。
