The Karnataka Labour Department has officially cleared Infosys of any labour law violations concerning the exit of its trainees. This decision follows an inquiry into allegations surrounding the IT giant’s recent move to lay off nearly 350-400 trainees at its Mysuru campus.
According to sources, the department found no employer-employee relationship between Infosys and the affected individuals, deeming them apprenticeship trainees rather than regular employees. As per existing labour laws, layoffs apply only to full-time employees, and since these trainees were still undergoing training, the case does not fall under labour law violations.
A senior official from the department stated, “They were all only trainees, and some underwent training for three months. We cannot call it a layoff, so these labour laws are not applicable in such cases.”
Background: Infosys’ Decision to Exit Trainees
Infosys’ move to release underperforming trainees has been under scrutiny since early February when reports surfaced about mass trainee exits. The company cited poor performance in assessment tests as the primary reason, stating that trainees who failed evaluations three consecutive times could not continue with the organization.
The situation escalated when the Union Labour Ministry directed the Karnataka Labour Commissioner and Labour Secretary to investigate the matter. Following this directive, officials visited Infosys’ campuses in Bengaluru and Mysuru to assess the circumstances and gather evidence.
Despite the concerns raised by some affected individuals, Infosys has maintained that its actions were aligned with company policies. Officials also emphasized that impacted trainees were provided transport, counselling, and accommodation support.
NITES’ Stand and Next Steps
Despite the Karnataka Labour Department’s ruling, the IT employee union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) remains firm in its opposition. On February 26, NITES president Harpreet Singh Saluja held a press conference where affected trainees shared their experiences.
Saluja warned that if the government does not take further action, protests will be organized outside Infosys’ Mysuru campus. Meanwhile, the labour department is expected to submit its final report to the government by March 4.
While Infosys has received a legal clean chit, the debate over corporate responsibility and trainee rights continues within the IT sector.
