Infosys said that the process has been in existence for over “two decades and ensures a high quality of talent availability for our clients”. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

IT services company Infosys has laid off over 300 freshers who underwent foundational training at its Mysuru campus but could not clear internal assessments after three attempts, according to sources.

IT employee union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), however, said the number of freshers affected by the move was much higher, and threatened to lodge an official complaint with the Ministry of Labour and Employment, seeking urgent intervention and strict action against the company.

In response to an email query, the Bengaluru-headquartered IT services company said, “At Infosys, we have a rigorous hiring process where all freshers, after undergoing extensive foundational training at our Mysuru campus, are expected to clear internal assessments.”

“All freshers get three attempts to clear the assessment, failing which they will not be able to continue with the organisation, the company said, asserting that this clause “is also mentioned in their contract,” it added.

“This process has been in existence for over two decades and ensures a high quality of talent availability for our clients,” Infosys said.

Sources privy to the development said the number of affected freshers is just above 300.

Meanwhile, NITES claimed that numbers were much higher and that the affected freshers had been onboarded just a few months ago in October 2024.

“These employees had already endured a two-year-long wait after receiving their offer letters, and their onboarding was only made possible after continuous efforts by NITES and the affected candidates,” it said.

NITES alleged that the employees were summoned to meeting rooms at its Mysuru campus, and asked to sign “mutual separation” letters — a claim that could not be independently verified.

“Given the gravity of the situation, NITES is filing an official complaint with the Ministry of Labour & Employment, demanding immediate intervention, strict action against Infosys,” NITES said.

IT employees union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate had filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labour and Employment alleging that Infosys had deferred the onboarding of more than 2,000 campus hires for over two years.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The office of the Chief Labour Commissioner, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, has directed the Karnataka Labour Department to investigate the alleged exploitation of young IT graduates by the Bengaluru-based tech firm Infosys Ltd. following the delayed onboarding of its campus recruits in 2022.

In a directive dated September 3 and addressed to the Labour Commissioner, Karnataka, the office of the Chief Labour Commissioner said, ‘‘Since appropriate government for action under respective Labour Law in this matter is State Government, you are requested to look into the matter and take suitable action under intimation to the applicant and this office.’‘

The directive signed by Regional Labour Commissioner, O.P. Singh, was in response to an email it received on August 20, 2024 from Harpreet Singh Saluja, president, of Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (Nites), regarding the alleged exploitation of young professionals by Infosys.

Nites had previously filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labour and Employment, in June and also in August, alleging that Infosys had deferred the onboarding of more than 2,000 campus hires for over two years.

Infosys finally issued offer letters, but to only 1,000 of the fresh graduates, Nites said, on September 2. The union also confirmed that these new hires have a starting date of October 7, 2024. The Labour Ministry further advised the applicants to make any further correspondence with the Labour Commissioner, Karnataka, if required.

Infosys did not respond to The Hindu’s query on this matter at the time of going to print.