Infosys has come under heavy criticism after it reportedly laid off nearly 700 campus recruits at its Mysuru campus, just a few months after onboarding them in October 2024. The move, which has sparked outrage among employees and industry observers, has been strongly condemned by the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES). According to a report by The Economic Times, the layoffs were conducted in batches, with nearly 400 employees being called in and issued ultimatum letters, citing their failure to meet minimum qualifying requirements. This abrupt decision has left many young professionals without a job, causing distress among fresh graduates who had been eagerly looking forward to beginning their careers in the IT sector.
The situation has been further aggravated by the fact that these layoffs follow a long and frustrating delay in the onboarding process for the 2024 batch of recruits. Infosys had extended offer letters for System Engineer (SE) and Digital SE positions, promising annual salaries ranging from ₹3.2 lakh to ₹3.7 lakh. However, despite receiving these offers, nearly 2,000 graduates had to wait for months before being onboarded. The delay had already raised concerns regarding job security, and now, with the sudden terminations, many affected employees feel betrayed by the company’s handling of their careers.
What has drawn even greater criticism is the manner in which Infosys is reportedly conducting the layoffs. NITES has alleged that the company deployed bouncers and security personnel at its Mysuru campus to intimidate employees, ensuring that they were not allowed to carry mobile phones inside the meeting rooms where the termination discussions were taking place. This, according to the union, was a deliberate move to prevent employees from recording conversations, taking pictures of documents, or reaching out for help. NITES further claimed that employees were coerced into signing "mutual separation" letters under pressure, making it appear as though they were voluntarily leaving the company.
Harpreet Singh Saluja, the President of NITES, has slammed Infosys for its treatment of these young professionals, calling the entire process "completely undignified." He stated that affected employees were given an ultimatum to vacate the company premises by the evening, leaving them with no severance package, financial assistance, or transition support. Many of these employees had relocated to Mysuru for their jobs, and now they are left in an uncertain situation with little to no time to make alternative arrangements.
The mass layoffs have triggered outrage on social media, with industry experts, former employees, and job seekers criticizing Infosys for its handling of the situation. The move has also raised concerns about the overall hiring practices in India's IT sector, where companies frequently recruit in large numbers during campus placements, only to later cut jobs due to business uncertainties or performance-related criteria.
In response to these developments, NITES has announced that it will be filing an official complaint with the Labour Ministry of India, urging the government to intervene and take appropriate action against Infosys. The union is calling for a detailed investigation into the layoffs, demanding fair compensation for the affected employees and stricter regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The incident highlights the growing uncertainty in the Indian IT sector, which has already seen job cuts and hiring freezes due to global economic challenges. With companies increasingly adopting cost-cutting measures, fresh graduates and entry-level employees remain the most vulnerable to layoffs. As the controversy around Infosys’ decision continues to grow, industry stakeholders are closely watching to see whether the company will respond to the backlash or reconsider its approach to workforce management.
