India’s External Affairs Ministry has strongly criticised the US decision to suspend the PERM labour certification process. The move affects eight Indian IT firms.

The suspended companies include TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Cognizant, Capgemini, Microsoft and Adobe. The PERM process is used for employment-based green cards.

The MEA said the move does “not advance our shared ambitions”. It said Indian professionals contribute greatly to the US economy. The ministry urged Washington to reconsider.

The ministry also reacted to US Vice President J D Vance’s remarks. Vance had called Indian workers “indentured servants”. The MEA called the remark “deeply offensive”.

Officials said India will raise the issue through diplomatic channels. Industry bodies have also expressed concern. They said the freeze could hurt Indian IT exports.

The US has said the suspension is part of a wider review. No timeline has been given for resuming the processThe Indian IT industry employs lakhs of people. Companies say the move may slow hiring and raise costs for clients.