IBM invites laid-off U.S. employees to work in India

Redefining the possibilities of the word "offshore," IBM has invited its recently laid-off U.S. workers to find work with the storied company in developing countries like India – where salaries are a fraction of what Americans are used to.

While the invitation is likely more than most U.S. companies have offered the 2.6 million Americans laid off in 2008, the company's standing offer is probably cold comfort to most newly minted ex-IBM employees.

An internal document circulating the company says that a program called "Project Match" will "help you locate potential job opportunities in growth markets where your skills are in demand," according to InformationWeek.

"Should you accept a position in one of these countries, IBM offers financial assistance to offset moving costs, provides immigration support, such as visa assistance, and other support to help ease the transition of an international move," the document says.

There are lot of people who could theoretically accept an IBM job abroad: the company has laid-off at least 4,000 people in the United States since the beginning of the year, according to AllianceAtIBM, a union that is affiliated with the Communications Workers of America and represents a small number of IBM workers.

"IBM is not only offshoring IBM U.S. jobs but they want employees to offshore themselves through Project Match," an AllianceAtIBM spokesman said.

But IBM disagrees. "It's more of a vehicle for people who want to expand their life experience by working somewhere else," said a company spokesman. "A lot of people want to work in India."

Or China, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Russia, South Africa, Nigeria or the United Arab Emirates -- all those countries were listed on the IBM document, which InformationWeek obtained Monday.

IBM hasn't revealed the number of jobs it has cut in recent months, since the Securities and Exchange Commission requires companies to disclose only "material" events, the Associated Press reported. IBM considers its job cuts a regular part of the company's business model, since thousands of jobs are cut every year but are -- sometimes, at least -- added back in other places.

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