Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), which works for the rights of employees in the information technology (IT) sector, has formally complained against Infosys for illegally terminating about 700 freshers who were onboarded at its Mysuru campus recently. The Senate has written to the Karnataka Labour Department in this regard.
The terminations have been labeled as unjust and illegal by NITES. These freshers were inducted in October 2024 but were suddenly asked to leave and given letters of ‘mutual separation’. These trainees had already waited patiently for two years to be formally onboarded despite having received offer letters.
What was most disappointing was that Infosys had made an internal assessment the basis for the layoff. The company, however, maintains that the assessment has been part of the rigorous hiring process that Infosys has been known for; that it has been in place for over 20 years now. Trainees are allowed to take the test thrice, and if they fail even after three attempts they are asked to discontinue service. As per Infosys, this is mentioned in their service contract too.
The Senate has requested the Ministry of Labour to take strict action against Infosys for breach of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. It has sought investigation into the matter and an order to put a stop to any further layoffs. The NITES union also wants all the laid-off trainees to be reinstated and compensated. It has alleged that Infosys tried to intimidate freshers / trainees and had asked them to vacate their accommodations suddenly without much notice. The company has been accused of not offering any severance package either.
