‘Indian workers are cheaper, disposable…’: Argentine CEO’s argument on global pay gap sparks controversy

Franco Pereira, co-founder and COO of Near, has sparked a heated debate about global pay disparity with a controversial post on LinkedIn. Near, a platform that connects US companies with remote talent from Latin America, is rooted in the promise of connecting the global workforce. However, Pereira’s assertion that it is fair for global workers to be paid less than their American counterparts has polarized opinions online.

“As an Argentine living in Buenos Aires, I see how some people are upset by this statement,” Pereira wrote. “But I can stay in my country, be with my family, and enjoy a lower cost of living.” For Pereira, wage differences are justified when viewed through the lens of the local economy.

Pereira also acknowledged the backlash his stance sparked. “A lot of people get upset and say that workers in Latin America, India and the Philippines are being exploited. And yes, there are definitely companies that exploit global talent. But paying less to work abroad is not inherently wrong,” he added.

The post quickly made its way to the LinkedIn Lunatics subreddit, where opinions were sharply divided. Some defended his view, citing the economic logic of offshoring. “This is how offshoring works. If they couldn’t pay people in countries with a low cost of living less money, they wouldn’t hire these people,” one user commented. Others criticized Pereira for oversimplifying a multi-faceted issue, as “It’s strange that he never mentioned cost of living or working conditions,” one commenter noted.

In a subsequent post, Pereira shifted the focus to exploitative practices in global recruitment, especially in regions such as India and the Philippines. “I see this happening all too often, especially with talent from India and the Philippines — a revolving door of workers who are treated as disposable,” he wrote. Pereira stressed the impact of such practices on both employees and companies, saying: “Employees spend two miserable months and then leave, while the company deals with the chaos of constant turnover, rehiring and retraining.”

The debate surrounding Pereira’s statements highlights deeper issues in the global labor market. While Indian IT workers and other international talent drive innovation in critical sectors like SaaS and technology, they often face undervalued contributions, low wages, and limited benefits.