Why Infosys has laid off 400 trainees in Mysuru
What's the story
Infosys, a leading software company, is firing around 400 trainees from its Mysuru campus, according to Moneycontrol. The move comes after the batch failed to clear evaluation tests in three consecutive attempts. The batch constitutes nearly half of the trainees who were onboarded in October 2024. The onboarding had been delayed by two and a half years due to a macroeconomic downturn which forced IT companies' clients to suspend project spending.
Hiring protocol
Rigorous hiring process and trainee assessment
Infosys follows a strict hiring process, wherein all new employees are subjected to rigorous foundational training at its Mysuru campus. The company said, "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 practice has been followed for over 20 years, ensuring quality talent for clients.
Discontentment
Trainees express distress over termination process
The termination process includes calling in batches of around 50 trainees and getting them to sign "mutual separation" letters. One such trainee vented their anger to Moneycontrol, saying the tests were ridiculously difficult and appeared to be set up to fail them. They also witnessed trainees fainting under the pressure of an uncertain future.
Security steps
Infosys's security measures and NITES's response
Reportedly, Infosys has even employed bouncers and security staff to stop trainees from carrying mobile phones on the premises. The fired trainees have been asked to vacate the campus by 6:00pm. In light of these actions, the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) plans to file an official complaint with the Ministry of Labour & Employment, demanding immediate intervention and strict action against Infosys.
Call to action
NITES calls for government intervention
Harpreet Singh Saluja of NITES has termed the situation "blatant corporate exploitation" and called on the government to act quickly. He said, "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." The trainees who were released had been hired for positions such as System Engineers (SE) and Digital Specialist Engineers (DSE).