The US Department of Labor suspends Cognizant’s permanent labour certification (PERM) filings as part of a wider investigation into alleged fraud tied to employment-based visa programmes. The suspension prevents the company from submitting new PERM applications until the Labor Department concludes its review of alleged irregularities involving its H-1B and PERM processes.
The Department of Labor Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito announces the action, describing it as part of stepped-up enforcement that aims to deter practices that could disadvantage American workers. Sources also place the decision within a nationwide probe that Washington begins in July, alongside the White House Fraud Task Force and other officials. D’Esposito frames enforcement as a coordinated effort and warns of consequences for misconduct.
Other reporting characterizes the move as part of broader government scrutiny of employment-linked immigration programmes, examining whether foreign-worker sponsorship affects opportunities for Americans. The reports note that such actions can extend beyond a single company, and some cite Cognizant’s scale as a US H-1B sponsor, as well as the significance of PERM in the pathway to permanent residency.
