Walmart has dismissed speculation linking the retailer to alleged misuse of H-1B visas, saying recent reports circulating online are not connected to its workforce practices. A company spokesperson told CNBC-TV18 that while an internal investigation did lead to the termination of one vendor and a small number of US-based associates, “this investigation had nothing to do with H-1B visas.”The clarification comes after unverified claims surfaced on social media, suggesting a scandal involving contract workers at Walmart. Posts on an employee forum alleged that a Vice President in the company’s Global Tech unit was fired for receiving kickbacks related to contract hiring.
The rumours gained traction on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter). Some threads tied the issue to H-1B visa holders without presenting evidence, raising concerns among members of the Indian diaspora in the US who worried about reputational fallout.
Discussions on online forums reflected unease, with several users arguing that such allegations, even if unsubstantiated, could fuel negative stereotypes about Indians in the American workplace.Walmart’s clarification comes against the backdrop of broader restructuring at the company, with media reports earlier this year of about 1,500 job cuts — a move that had already triggered debate about hiring practices and foreign workers, though unrelated to the current rumours.
