Infosys has indefinitely postponed its upcoming employee assessments, citing the need to “give employees more time to study.” However, this decision has raised eyebrows, with employee welfare group Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) calling it a desperate attempt to deflect attention from the recent layoffs of 700 employees on February 7.
A Sudden U-Turn Under Pressure
According to NITES, Infosys’ decision to delay assessments is a direct response to mounting pressure from terminated employees and the organization’s legal complaints. Adv. Harpreet Singh Saluja, President of NITES, stated:
“This sudden decision is nothing but a cover-up. Infosys never gave such liberty to the 700 employees it forcefully terminated on February 7. Those employees were thrown out in a single day without notice, severance, or even a place to stay for the night.”
The indefinite postponement of assessments is being viewed as an attempt to avoid further controversy as Infosys struggles to justify its mass terminations.
Unethical Layoffs and Employee Distress
Infosys, one of India’s leading IT firms, has been facing severe backlash for its alleged unfair treatment of campus recruits. The affected employees, mainly from the 2022 engineering batch, had already endured a two-year delay in onboarding before being abruptly fired without prior notice or compensation.
Reports from the Mysuru campus revealed distressing scenes:
- Employees were forcibly removed with packed suitcases.
- Security guards and bouncers were deployed to prevent resistance.
- Many were locked in meeting rooms and pressured to sign separation agreements.
- Mobile phones were confiscated to prevent documentation of the incident.
NITES described the incident as a blatant violation of labor rights and has called for immediate government intervention.
Infosys’ Justification vs. Employees’ Allegations
Infosys claims that the layoffs were based on internal assessments, stating that all recruits were given three chances to pass qualifying tests. However, terminated employees dispute this, alleging:
- The assessment syllabus was changed midway.
- Many received termination notices without prior communication.
- Infosys forced employees into signing “mutual separation” agreements to avoid legal responsibility.
NITES Demands Government Action
NITES has formally filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labour & Employment, demanding:
- An immediate investigation into Infosys’ layoffs.
- A restraining order against further terminations.
- Reinstatement of terminated employees with compensation.
- Penal action for violating the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.
“The IT industry thrives on young professionals’ hard work, yet they are discarded like liabilities. This must stop,” said Saluja.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Infosys has ignited nationwide discussions about job security in India’s IT sector. With legal battles intensifying, all eyes are now on the government’s response. Will justice be served, or will corporate exploitation continue unchecked?
