Franco Pereyra, co-founder and COO of Near, has sparked a heated debate about global pay disparities with a controversial LinkedIn post. A platform connecting U.S. companies with remote talent in Latin America is rooted in the promise of bridging global workforces. However, Pereira's claim that it is fair for global workers to be paid less than their American counterparts has polarized opinion online.
“As an Argentinian living in Buenos Aires, I see how some people are upset by that statement,” Pereira wrote. “But I get to stay in my country, be with my family and enjoy a lower cost of living.” For Pereira, wage differentials are justified through the lens of domestic economics.
Perera also acknowledged the backlash his stance had sparked. “Many people are alarmed and say that workers in Latin America, India and the Philippines are being exploited. Yes, there are certainly companies exploiting global talent. But paying less for overseas jobs is not inherently wrong,” he added.
The post quickly found its way into the “LinkedIn Lunatics” subthread, where opinions were sharply divided. Some defended his perspective, citing the economic logic of offshoring. “That's how offshoring works. If they can't afford to pay people in countries with a lower cost of living, they won't employ those people,” one user commented. Others criticized Perera for oversimplifying a multifaceted issue, with one commenter pointing out, “It's odd that he never mentions the cost of living or working conditions.”
In a follow-up post, Perera focused on exploitative practices in global hiring, particularly in regions like India and the Philippines. “I see this happening often, especially with talent from India and the Philippines — a revolving door of workers who are considered disposable,” he wrote. Pereyra emphasized the impact of such practices on both employees and companies, saying, “Employees have a miserable few months while the company deals with the chaos of constant turnover, rehiring and retraining, and then they leave.”
The debate surrounding Perera's comments highlights deeper problems 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 salaries and limited benefits.