Infosys Delays Critical Assessment Following Employee Terminations Controversy, claims IT workers union

Infosys, a prominent IT services firm in India, has delayed an important internal assessment that was supposed to occur on February 18, at its Mysore campus. This decision follows considerable backlash after the company terminated hundreds of trainees, which has faced strong criticism from employee unions and led to government involvement. 

Around 800 employees were set to participate in the assessment, with results anticipated on Wednesday and possible terminations by Friday, February 21. After intervention from the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) and other unions, Infosys has rescheduled the assessment to February 24, 2025. This information was shared with the trainee interns through an official email, a screenshot of which has circulated. 

“Today, around 800 employees were scheduled for an assessment, with results set for tomorrow and potential terminations on Friday. However, following NITES’ intervention, government action, and strong media support, Infosys has now postponed the assessment. While this brings a sigh of relief for many employees, the fight for fair employment practices and job security is far from over,” stated Advocate Harpreet Singh Saluja, President of NITES.

This postponement provides temporary relief for the employees, giving them extra time to prepare and potentially address the concerns raised.

Background:

A few weeks ago, it was reported that Infosys had let go of over 400 new recruits at its training center in Mysore. 

The company explained that these trainees were dismissed for not passing internal assessments, despite being given three chances to succeed. Infosys emphasized that this evaluation system, which has been in place for more than twenty years, is designed to maintain a high level of talent for its clients.

However, the IT employees’ union NITES disputed Infosys’s statements, claiming that the actual number of terminated employees was greater than reported and labeling the layoffs as “illegal, unethical, and in violation of labor laws.” 

The union argued that many of these new hires had already experienced a two-year delay in their onboarding and were abruptly terminated without sufficient notice.

State Involvement:

In response to the rising concerns, NITES submitted a formal complaint to the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment. The ministry quickly instructed the Karnataka State Labour Department to look into the issue and take “urgent action” to safeguard the rights of the affected employees.

Labour department officials then visited the Infosys campuses in Bengaluru and Mysore to evaluate the situation and engaged in discussions with company representatives about their hiring and training practices.

Ongoing Issues:

While the postponement is a positive development for the affected employees, concerns about job security and fair employment practices in the IT sector persist.

NITES continues to advocate for the reinstatement of terminated employees and calls for stricter regulations to prevent such incidents in the future. The union has also demanded that Infosys adhere to ethical practices and comply with existing labour laws to safeguard employee rights.

As of now, Infosys has not released an official statement regarding the postponement of the assessment or addressed the specific allegations raised by NITES and the affected employees. This lack of communication has left many in the workforce anxious about their future and the company’s commitment to fair treatment.