iGate Mastech, Inc., a Pittsburgh computer consulting company, has agreed to pay $45,000 in fines to settle Department of Justice allegations that the company discriminated against United States citizens in its employment practices.

The department alleged that between May 9, 2006, and June 4, 2006, iGate placed 30 job announcements for computer programmers that expressly favored H-1B visa holders to the exclusion of U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other legal U.S. workers. Such preference constituted citizenship status discrimination and is prohibited by the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Just Department said.

The settlement also requires iGate to train its recruitment personnel and to post a nondiscrimination statement on its Web site.

Anti-discrimination provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) protect U.S. citizens and certain work-authorized individuals from employment discrimination based upon citizenship or immigration status. The INA also protects all work-authorized individuals from national origin discrimination, unfair documentary practices relating to the employment eligibility verification process, and from retaliation.