US suspends Microsoft, major IT firms from key green card program

The US has suspended Microsoft and several other major IT firms from its key green card program, citing delays in meeting labor market conditions. The program, known as the PERM (Program Electronic Review Management) program, allows US employers to sponsor foreign-born workers for permanent residency. The suspension affects companies including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and IBM. The US Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification has suspended the companies' ability to file new PERM applications, pending further review. The move is seen as a response to the US government's efforts to address labor market conditions and ensure that foreign workers are not displacing American workers. The suspension is expected to impact thousands of foreign workers who were hoping to secure permanent residency through the program.