Companies should develop intern programs here

Everyone talks about the unemployment problem, but nobody offers solutions. News media report that Microsoft and other corporations urged Congress to expand immigration visas so that corporations can recruit employees from other countries [“Let in far more foreign workers?” page one, Jan. 30].

The justification for this exemption? Foreign workers have complex skills not available in U.S. employees. Why don’t these corporations expend a little time and money to develop internship programs to train talented college graduates in the skills needed? The corporation would have sufficient employees at minimal cost (a tax deduction perhaps?).

The interns could afford to buy food, clothing and rent from local business and local stores that would need to employ more people.

A small step forward toward resolving the unemployment problem.

--Jessie Irene Fernandes, Bellevue