Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), a Pune-based IT employee union, has lodged a formal complaint with the Ministry of Labour and Employment against Infosys, one of India’s largest IT firms. The union accuses Infosys of delaying the onboarding process for around 2,000 fresh engineering graduates, selected as system engineers and digital specialist engineers, for more than two years.
Extended Delays and Unpaid Training
The graduates received their offer letters as early as April 2022 but have faced continuous delays since then. NITES claims that these young professionals were subjected to unpaid pre-training programs and unexpected additional assessments, despite fulfilling all requirements on their end. The delays have left them in a state of limbo, causing immense frustration, anxiety, and uncertainty about their future careers.
A Breach of Trust?
Harpreet Singh Saluja, President of NITES, stated, “We believe that this is not just a breach of trust by one of India’s largest IT companies, but also a significant issue that impacts the future of our country’s IT workforce and economy. We are calling on the government to take immediate and strict action against Infosys to ensure that such exploitative practices are halted and that the rights of these young professionals are protected.”
Infosys’ Response and Future Hiring Plans
Despite the seriousness of these allegations, Infosys has yet to respond officially. However, during a recent media conference following the company’s Q1 FY25 results, CFO Jayesh Sanghrajka acknowledged that only a small number of onboardings from the previous year were pending. He stated, “…a small portion of that (onboarding) would be pending. The rest is pretty much done.”
The NITES complaint further highlighted that after the delays, graduates were asked to participate in an unpaid virtual pre-training from July 1 to July 24, 2024. They were promised final joining by August 19 or September 2, 2024, but were later informed they must retake the exam offline, again without pay.
Call for Government Intervention
NITES has urged the government to take strict action against Infosys, emphasizing the broader impact this issue has on the future of India’s IT workforce and economy. The union’s complaint reflects growing concerns about the treatment of young professionals in the industry and the need for stronger regulatory oversight.
