Infosys has reportedly initiated layoffs of approximately 700 campus recruits who joined the company in October 2024, according to Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), an organisation said to be working for the welfare of IT and ITES organisations. “In a shocking and unethical move, Infosys has begun forcefully laying off around 700 campus recruits who were onboarded just a few months ago,” said Harpreet Singh Saluja, NITES president, who is preparing to file a formal complaint with India’s Labour Ministry.
Infosys has claimed the number to be around 350. The employees are reported to have been terminated following multiple failed attempts at clearing internal assessments.
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Claims and counter claims on assesment criteria
The Economic Times reports that about 400 employees were summoned in batches and presented with ultimatum letters after failing to meet minimum requirements across three attempts in a qualifying test. Affected employees claim the assessment criteria and syllabus were modified during the process.
Responding to the allegations, Infosys defended its actions, stating, “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.”
Most affected employees are from the 2022 engineering batch who underwent training at the company’s Mysuru campus. According to ET, these recruits had already endured a two-year wait before being onboarded in October 2023, with initial offer letters promising annual packages of Rs 3.2-3.7 lakh for system engineer roles.
NITES has alleged that the company employed intimidation tactics during the termination 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,” Saluja claimed.
The organization is now seeking government intervention, arguing that these actions violate the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, and calling for immediate action to protect IT workers’ rights.