Infosys, one of India’s leading IT firms, has recently come under scrutiny for terminating around 350 trainees from its Mysuru campus. Most of the affected employees were 2022 engineering graduates, who finally joined Infosys in October 2024 after waiting for more than two years since receiving their offer letters.
The layoffs have sparked controversy, with allegations of intimidation and unethical treatment being raised. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what actually happened.
Why Were Infosys Trainees Fired?
Infosys maintains that the employees were terminated due to poor performance in internal assessments—a critical part of the company’s training process.
- Company Policy: Every fresher at Infosys gets three chances to clear the assessment. If they fail all three attempts, they are automatically let go as per the company’s long-standing policy.
- A Standard Practice: Infosys has stated that this process has been in place for over 20 years, ensuring that only skilled employees continue in the organization.
Official Statement from Infosys:
“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.”
The Allegations—Intimidation & Forced Resignations
While Infosys has defended its decision, reports from the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) tell a different story.
- Use of Security Personnel and Bouncers
NITES alleges that Infosys employed bouncers and security guards to pressure employees into signing “mutual separation” letters. - Confined in Groups Without Phones
Reports suggest that trainees were called in batches of 50, confined to rooms, and forced to sign resignation documents without access to their mobile phones—leaving them with no proof of what was happening. - Immediate Eviction from Campus
Some terminated employees were allegedly denied overnight accommodation, forcing them to leave the premises immediately after being let go.
Statement from NITES President Harpreet Singh Saluja:
“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.”
What Does Infosys Say?
Infosys has denied all allegations of intimidation and maintains that the layoffs were handled according to standard company policies. However, the controversy has raised serious concerns about how IT firms manage large-scale fresher hiring and terminations.
With NITES preparing to escalate the matter to India’s Labour Ministry, the issue may not end here. The situation has once again highlighted the need for greater transparency and employee rights protection in India’s IT sector.
