Retrenched employees seen leaving Infosys’ Mysuru training campus on Friday.
Credit: Special arrangement
Infosys' laying off their trainees caused a big stir in Mysuru last week as a large number of them were let go by the IT giant on February 7.
Having waited for almost two and half years after receiving their offer letters, these trainees were let go within months of joining, after they failed a series of internal tests. Harrowing stories have started coming out of the lay-off process that occurred in the tech giant's Mysuru campus.
According to a report by Moneycontrol, a female trainee from Madhya Pradesh was distraught and sought a night's extension to stay at the campus. "Please let me stay the night. I will leave tomorrow. Where will I go right now," she reportedly said, to which the an official replied, "We don’t know. You are no longer part of the company. Vacate the premises by 6 pm."
This was just one of many incidents that occurred on the Infosys campus. Hundreds of trainees scrambled to find transport to head back to their hometowns, all the while wondering how they would break the news to their loved ones after having waited nearly two and a half years since graduating, only to be terminated just months later.
One of those laid off told DH that this was the first time Infosys has laid off such a large number of people and estimated that the number was around 500.
The IT-sector union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) claimed that the total number of trainees laid off was around 700, while Infosys clarified it to be just over 300.
As per the statement, Infosys claimed to have a rigorous hiring process where all freshers, after undergoing foundational training at their Mysuru campus, were 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, as is also mentioned in their contract, said Infosys.
A batch of trainees were called in on February 7 at 9:30 am.
“You are required to maintain confidentiality, hence please do not discuss this, or share this calendar invite with anyone,” read a mail sent to the affected trainees a day earlier, MC reported.
Reportedly, Infosys' US clients and employees from their digital banking system Finacle were present on campus at the same time.
“Therefore, buses were used as shields to cover the area where we were being called and terminated one by one. We were escorted out in a way so as to not catch their attention,” the trainee told MC.
According to complaints received by NITES, the company 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.
Text messages that were exchanged between those affected pursuant to the meeting include - “Forced to resign.” “No discussion. Guards were there.” “Exit by 6pm today.” “They are calling it a mutual decision, our resignation and making us exit.” “HR asked why did you wait 2.5 years - should have found work elsewhere.”
Fears of more such lay-offs remain. On February 14, about 450 trainees from the October 21 batch, selected mostly for system engineer roles, will sit their third attempt for their evaluations.
The trainees have also reported that the evaluations have become extremely tough to crack over the past two years.
Reportedly, the testing process was more structured and provided enough time for learning back in 2022, but by 2024, the test process was such that it was practically impossible to pass them.
The tests in 2022 apparently required only 50 per cent overall on two tests as passing criteria, with many who didn't pass still being promoted to meet company hiring demands.
Now each part requires a minimum of 65 percent to pass, and the total syllabus requires 200 hours of study.
However, with candidates being expected to study from 9.15 am to 5.45 pm in training and then go on to do self-study for 8 hours after that, covering the syllabus was practically impossible.
Additionally, it is reported that the same syllabus is being taught for different roles with vast salary differences.
E.g. System engineers, who earn about Rs 20,000 a month, are now studying the same syllabus as specialist programmers, who earn approximately Rs 70,000, Moneycontrol reported.
According to NITES, Infosys’ actions contravene Indian labour laws, including the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The union is filing an official complaint with the Ministry of Labour and Employment, demanding immediate intervention and strict action against Infosys.
“In a shocking and unethical move, Infosys has begun forcefully laying off around 700 campus recruits who were onboarded just a few months ago in October 2024. These employees had already endured a two-year-long wait after receiving their offer letters,” said Harpreet Singh Saluja, President, Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES).
“This blatant corporate exploitation cannot be allowed to continue, and we urge the government to take swift action to uphold the rights and dignity of Indian IT workers,” said Saluja.
(With DHNS inputs)