The Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), an IT employees union, has filed a formal complaint with the Ministry of Labour and Employment against Infosys. The union accuses the IT giant of repeatedly delaying the onboarding process for around 2,000 campus recruits, causing significant financial and emotional hardship.
Prolonged Delays and Financial Hardships
According to the union, these delays have persisted for over two years, leaving the affected recruits in a state of uncertainty and financial distress. “Many had turned down other job offers in good faith, relying on Infosys’ offer letters. Now, they face financial hardship and uncertainty due to the lack of income and a clear onboarding timeline,” NITES said in a statement. The union argues that Infosys’ actions represent a serious breach of trust, as the young professionals had trusted the company to provide a smooth transition into their careers.
Call for Government Intervention
NITES is urging the Ministry of Labour and Employment to investigate the matter, emphasizing that Infosys has a moral and ethical obligation to support the recruits. The union is demanding that Infosys provide full salary payments for the period of the delay and expedite access to the company’s employee assistance program to help address the mental and emotional strain caused by the uncertainty. Furthermore, NITES insists that if onboarding continues to be infeasible, Infosys should actively assist the recruits in finding alternative employment opportunities within the organization.
Industry-Wide Issue
This is not the first time NITES has taken action against IT firms for similar issues. Last October, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) was issued a notice by the Maharashtra Ministry of Labour and Employment over a complaint filed by NITES, which claimed that TCS had delayed the onboarding of 200 lateral recruits.
Impact on the IT Industry
The delays in onboarding new recruits reflect a broader trend within the domestic IT services industry. Companies have reduced campus visits and slowed down the hiring of freshers, leading to a skewed pyramid structure. The base of the pyramid, which consists of young and less expensive employees, is shrinking. In the fiscal year 2023-24, both TCS and Infosys saw the proportion of young employees in their total headcount fall to a five-year low and a decadal low, respectively.
Conclusion
The repeated delays in onboarding by Infosys have caused significant distress to thousands of recruits who had placed their trust in the company. As NITES calls for government intervention and fair treatment for the affected employees, the broader IT industry faces challenges in maintaining a balanced workforce amidst reduced hiring activities.
