Infosys Lays Off Hundreds of Employees at Mysuru Campus; NITES Raises Serious Allegations
Infosys Lays Off Hundreds of Employees at Mysuru Campus; NITES Alleges Use of Bouncers
Indian IT giant Infosys has reportedly laid off hundreds of employees, primarily trainees and campus recruits, at its Mysuru campus. The layoffs have sparked controversy, with the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) calling the move “shocking and unethical.”
Infosys Terminates Hundreds of Trainees
According to reports from the Times of India, Infosys has begun terminating around 700 employees who were onboarded in October 2023. These layoffs predominantly affect fresh engineering graduates from the 2022 batch, who had been waiting for over two years before officially joining the company.
NITES President Harpreet Singh Saluja has condemned the action, stating that the employees were forcefully asked to leave. The organization is preparing to escalate the issue to India’s Labour Ministry for further investigation.
Meanwhile, a Moneycontrol report suggests that the number of affected employees is around 400. According to the report, the trainees were let go after failing to pass three consecutive evaluation tests. However, Infosys has officially confirmed the layoff of approximately 350 employees.
Infosys Justifies Layoffs, Cites Longstanding Policy
Defending its decision, Infosys stated that the assessment policy, which has been in place for over two decades, ensures high-quality talent availability for its clients. The company explained that freshers receive three attempts to clear assessments, and those who fail are unable to continue with the organization, as per their employment contract.
“All freshers get three attempts to clear the assessment, failing which they will not be able to continue with the organization, as is also mentioned in their contract. This process has been in existence for over two decades and ensures a high quality of talent availability for our clients,” Infosys stated.
Reports suggest that employees were called in batches of 50 and asked to sign “mutual separation” letters, indicating a formal agreement to part ways with the company.
Who Are the Affected Employees?
The impacted employees are largely from the 2022 engineering batch, many of whom had to wait for over two years before being formally onboarded in October 2023. They were initially offered an annual salary package ranging between INR 3.2 lakh to INR 3.7 lakh (approximately $3,600-$4,200).
Allegations of Intimidation and Use of Bouncers
The layoffs have drawn criticism from employee unions, particularly due to allegations that Infosys used security personnel and bouncers to intimidate employees into signing separation agreements. NITES has accused Infosys of violating the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, by coercing employees to resign without due process.
“The company has deployed bouncers and security personnel to intimidate employees, ensuring that they cannot carry mobile phones and are left with no way to document the incident or seek help,” alleged Saluja.
Repercussions and Industry Response
The incident has raised concerns within India’s IT sector, where job security has been a growing issue. Employee unions are urging regulatory authorities to investigate Infosys’ actions and ensure compliance with labor laws.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on India’s Labour Ministry to determine the next course of action. Meanwhile, the affected employees continue to voice their grievances, seeking fair treatment and transparency from one of India’s largest IT firms.
