Infosys lays off hundreds of freshers amid controversy
BENGALURU, INDIA — Infosys, a prominent IT services company in India, has laid off over 300 freshers who recently completed foundational training at its Mysuru campus.
The layoffs, which occurred on February 7, 2025, have sparked a heated debate, with conflicting reports about the number of affected employees and the circumstances surrounding their termination.
Dispute over layoff numbers and process
While Infosys officially stated that “the number is just above 300,” the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), an IT-sector union, claims that nearly 700 freshers were let go.
Harpreet Singh Saluja, President of NITES, called the move “shocking and unethical,” alleging that employees were forced to sign “mutual separation” letters under duress.
According to NITES, the freshers—many of whom had waited two years after receiving offer letters—were abruptly summoned to meetings and asked to vacate the premises by evening. Some employees expressed concerns about safety, particularly for women traveling late at night.
Infosys cites assessment failures as reason
In its defense, Infosys stated that the terminations were based on performance during internal assessments conducted after training.
“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,” Infosys said in an official statement. The company emphasized that its hiring and evaluation processes have been consistent for over two decades.
However, some terminated employees claimed that assessment criteria were altered midway, making it harder to pass. Others criticized the lack of transparency and abruptness of the process.
Allegations of intimidation and labor law violations
NITES has accused Infosys of deploying bouncers and security personnel during the termination process to intimidate employees and prevent them from documenting events.
The union argues that these actions violate Indian labor laws, including the Industrial Disputes Act of 1947.
The NITES has already filed a formal complaint with the Ministry of Labour and Employment, requesting government intervention.
Broader concerns in India’s IT sector
The layoffs primarily affected fresh graduates from the 2022 engineering batch who were onboarded in October 2024. The incident has raised questions about corporate ethics and fairness in India’s IT industry.
“This blatant corporate exploitation cannot be allowed to continue,” said Saluja, urging swift action to protect workers’ rights.
As discussions unfold, this controversy highlights growing concerns about job security and transparency in India’s tech sector.
