New Delhi: In the wake of a spate of Bills in the United States seeking ban on outsourcing to countries including India, Infosys Chairman N R Narayana Murthy today (Feb 4, 2004) said Indian companies have to work with their US customers to convince the local government and politicians on the advantages of outsourcing.

"This is an election year. We have to understand that. At the same time, we have to work with our clients to make sure that they work with their respective governments, their Senators, House of Representatives, and politicians to bring out the advantages of outsourcing that India could play in making their corporations stronger," he told newspersons on the sidelines of ICAI's annual function in New Delhi.

"They also have to make attempt in re-training their people and moving people from contextual activities to the core activities," he said.

Whether this would end by September when elections will be over, Murthy said, "I do not know if anybody can say that."

Last month, in the first federal law against outsourcing, the US Senate passed a law barring doling out sub-contracts to India and other countries by American companies to cut their costs.

After Colorado, Ohio lawmakers are against outsourcing of State jobs. Two Ohio lawmakers have called for legislation to bar State work from being outsourced abroad.

Earlier, two Colorado lawmakers had introduced Bills which would deny State contracts to companies which move out jobs to India and other countries.