Infosys, one of India’s biggest IT companies, has recently laid off around 700 of its employees who were hired as campus recruits in October 2024. These workers were part of a batch that joined the company after finishing their education, only to face sudden termination within a few months. The layoffs have sparked a lot of anger and concern, especially as many of these employees had invested a lot of hope and effort into their new jobs.
The company claims that only around 350 employees were affected, but the workers’ union, NITES (Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate), says the number is closer to 700. The reason given for these terminations is that the employees were not able to pass internal assessments, which were part of their job training. The workers had multiple chances to clear these tests, but they failed to meet the required standards, which led to their dismissal.
Allegations of Unfair Practices and Intimidation
The layoffs have caused an uproar, with many of the affected employees accusing Infosys of treating them unfairly. According to the reports, the company gave the employees three chances to pass a series of tests. If they failed all three attempts, they were asked to leave the company. While this rule was mentioned in their original contracts, the employees have raised concerns about the assessment process itself.
The workers claim that the rules and syllabus for the tests kept changing during the process, making it harder for them to succeed. They believe that this change in rules was unfair and that they were not given a fair opportunity to pass. Some employees also claim that Infosys did not make it clear enough how the assessments would be conducted, leaving them unprepared for the unexpected changes.
The situation became even more troubling when workers accused the company of using intimidation tactics during the termination process. According to the reports, when the employees were called in to receive their termination letters, they were surrounded by security guards and bouncers. These security personnel were allegedly instructed to make sure the employees couldn’t use their mobile phones, leaving them without a way to record what was happening or seek help. The presence of bouncers made the workers feel threatened and powerless during an already difficult time.
NITES Takes Action: Filing a Complaint
In response to the layoffs and the way they were handled, NITES, a union that supports IT workers, has decided to take legal action. They have filed a formal complaint with the Indian Labour Ministry, accusing Infosys of violating labor laws. NITES argues that the company’s actions are a clear violation of the Industrial Disputes Act, which protects workers’ rights.
The union has called for government intervention to ensure that workers are treated fairly and that their rights are upheld. They believe that the intimidation tactics used by the company, along with the unfair assessment process, need to be investigated thoroughly.
Infosys Defends Its Actions
Infosys, on the other hand, has defended its actions, stating that the termination process was in line with the company’s long-standing policies. The company insists that it has been following the same procedures for over 20 years and that the employees were informed about the terms of their employment from the start. However, the workers and their representatives believe that the company’s actions were both unfair and unethical, and they are demanding accountability.
The situation at the Infosys Mysuru campus has become a major issue for the company, with both the employees and the union calling for justice. As the matter unfolds, many are closely watching how Infosys will respond to the growing pressure and whether any changes will be made to the company’s policies to ensure better treatment of employees in the future.
In the meantime, the employees who were laid off continue to deal with the emotional and financial impact of losing their jobs. Many are left wondering whether the promises made to them during the hiring process were just empty words, and whether they have been treated fairly in this process.
As this situation continues to develop, it highlights the need for strong protection of workers’ rights and fair treatment in the workplace. The case of the Infosys layoffs has brought attention to the challenges faced by many young professionals in the job market and raised questions about the fairness of corporate practices.
