Infosys Faces Criticism for Laying Off 400 Trainees After Test Failures, Sparking Employee Outrage
Infosys Faces Criticism for Laying Off 400 Trainees After Test Failures, Sparking Employee Outrage
Infosys, a major software company, is reportedly laying off 400 trainees at its Mysuru campus after they failed to pass evaluation tests on three separate occasions. This number represents about half of the trainees who were brought on board in October 2024.
These trainees had to wait for two and a half years before being hired, a delay caused by a slowdown in the economy that led clients of IT firms to cut back on project spending.
In a statement, Infosys explained, “We have a strict hiring process where all new employees, after receiving extensive foundational training at our Mysuru campus, are required to pass internal assessments. Each new hire is allowed three attempts to pass the assessment; if they fail, they cannot continue with the company, as stated in their contract. This process has been in place for over twenty years and ensures that we provide high-quality talent to our clients.”
Sources indicate that the trainees are being called in groups of about 50 to sign “mutual separation” agreements.
“Many trainees feel this situation is unfair, claiming the tests were extremely difficult and designed for failure, with reports of some fainting due to the stress of an uncertain future,” said one terminated trainee.
Sources indicate that the company has employed security personnel to prevent trainees from bringing mobile phones onto the premises. However, Infosys has stated that no bouncers were actually deployed.
Trainees have been instructed to leave the campus by 6 PM, according to the sources.
The Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), an organization focused on the welfare of IT and ITES employees, has expressed concern. “In a surprising and unethical action, Infosys has started to forcibly terminate about 700 campus recruits who joined just a few months back,” stated Harpreet Singh Saluja, the president of NITES, who is planning to submit a formal complaint to India’s Labour Ministry.
“This blatant corporate exploitation cannot be permitted to continue, and we urge the government to act swiftly to protect the rights and dignity of Indian IT workers,” stated Harpreet Singh Saluja from NITES.
The affected trainees were hired for positions as System Engineers (SE) and Digital Specialist Engineers (DSE).
India’s second-largest software exporter, Infosys, had initially sent offer letters back in 2022 but delayed onboarding candidates due to a downturn in the IT industry. This situation reflects a broader trend across the industry, where fears of a potential recession in key markets and reduced discretionary spending have led many companies to halt hiring. This has resulted in a significant decline in headcount, the likes of which haven’t been seen in decades.
On September 3, Infosys took a step to address this by sending joining letters to around 1,000 freshers from the 2022 campus hires, just a day after issuing a similar number of letters. This move may indicate a shift in the company’s hiring strategy as the market gradually stabilizes.
