Why Isn't the United States Leading the Charge Against Foreign Labor Exploitation?
While dozens of countries have implemented strong employer-paid measures — levies, quotas, surcharges, and compliance costs — to prioritize their own citizens and reduce over-reliance on foreign labor, the United States stands out for the opposite reason: the United States has no comprehensive federal policy that systematically disincentivizes non-citizen hiring or levels the playing field for American workers.
Look at the global picture:
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Singapore, Canada, Australia, South Africa, France, Malaysia, Bahrain, Indonesia, Nigeria, Switzerland, Egypt, Botswana, Ghana, Kuwait, India, Oman, United Kingdom, Qatar, New Zealand, and Japan all use tools like citizen hiring quotas (Nitaqat, Emiratization, Omanization, Kuwaitization, etc.), labor market tests (LMIA in Canada, Skilling Australians Fund levy, etc.), foreign worker levies, and financial penalties or incentives that explicitly favor citizens over non-citizens — including permanent residents in many cases.
These policies often include:
- Mandatory advertising of jobs to locals first
- Higher fees, levies, or taxes on employers hiring non-citizens
- Quotas with fines or loss of government contracts for non-compliance
- Training funds or subsidies specifically for hiring and upskilling citizens
The result? Reduced wage suppression, higher domestic employment, and more balanced labor markets.
Yet the United States has none of these systematic disincentives.
The United States relies on basic I-9 verification and employer-sponsored visas (like H-1B with lottery/caps) without mandatory citizen-priority rules, labor market testing in most sectors, or employer-paid levies on non-citizen hires. This leaves American workers without the structural protections many peer nations provide.
That changes now.
With the NAICS 561399 (Foreign Labor Placement & Management Services) and NAICS 611319 (International Student Enrollment & Compliance Services) proposals already submitted to the Census Bureau, paired with the U.S. Citizen Workforce Protection and Employment Act and U.S. Citizen Student Education Protection Act.
The United States is poised to leap ahead.
Our framework introduces tiered levies on foreign labor and student enrollment, transparency through dedicated industry codes, compliance mandates, and reinvestment of trillions in revenue back into American workers, training, scholarships, and security.
No longer will we lag. These reforms will make the U.S. the undisputed global leader in protecting domestic talent, curbing exploitation of foreign labor channels, and restoring economic sovereignty — while still welcoming skilled talent where truly needed.
The data is clear. Other nations have acted. It’s time for America to lead.
Join the OnShoringAmerica movement. Support the NAICS proposals at the Census Bureau and urge Congress to pass the companion legislation.
Let’s Make American Workers #1 Again.
** United States Policy **
No specific federal policy exists to prioritize U.S. citizens for employment through taxes or levies on non-citizen hires, unlike programs in other countries. Employers must comply with general immigration and labor laws, verifying work eligibility for all employees.
Mechanism: Employers are required to verify work authorization via Form I-9 for all hires, including non-citizens, under the Immigration Reform and Control Act. No specific taxes, levies, or quotas prioritize citizen hiring.
Standard IRS payroll tax withholding applies to nonresident aliens (30% unless exempt under tax treaties), but no additional levies or fines target companies hiring authorized non-citizens. No government-funded incentives or training programs explicitly prioritize U.S. citizens.
Insight: The U.S. lacks a structured policy to financially incentivize or mandate citizen hiring over non-citizens, relying instead on general immigration compliance, which does not address wage suppression or job displacement concerns raised in other countries’ frameworks.