Infosys Fires More Trainees Amid Earlier Forced Termination Allegations

IT giant Infosys has once again terminated some trainees from its Mysuru campus, just two months after being accused of forcefully laying off around hundreds of trainees who failed internal assessments.  The exact number of affected employees is not confirmed yet.

Earlier today, a MoneyControl report, citing sources, claimed that around 30–45 trainees were laid off for failing internal assessments. However, the Bengaluru-based company offered them an alternative path to join its Business Process Management (BPM) division. Those who did not opt for the offer were given one month of ex-gratia payment and a relieving letter. 

“At Infosys, we have a rigorous hiring process where all freshers, after undergoing extensive foundational training at our Mysuru campus, are expected to clear internal assessments. All freshers get three attempts to clear the assessment, failing which they will not be able to continue with the organization, as is also mentioned in their contract. This process has been in existence for over two decades and ensures a high quality of talent availability for our clients,” the company said in an official statement.

Adding that each trainee that joins Infosys, fills an Apprenticeship Registration Form accepting their apprenticeship with Infosys, where the training cost is borne entirely by the company.  

According to Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), the company had delayed the assessments multiple times after the workers' body filed a complaint regarding "forced termination" of trainees on February 7. 

NITES had earlier lodged a complaint over the issue. On February 27, the Karnataka Labour Department cleared Infosys of labour law violations, citing a lack of an employer-employee relationship between the company and its trainees. Officials had visited Infosys’ campuses following a directive from the Union Labour Ministry. Infosys maintains that trainees who fail assessments cannot continue as per company policy. 

NITES Takes Case to Education Ministry

NITES has now submitted complaints to Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary. 

"Infosys engaged these fresh graduates under the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) in October 2024, entering into legally binding apprenticeship contracts. However, in blatant violation of The Apprentices Act, 1961, and The Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, Infosys forcibly terminated these apprentices without following the required legal procedures," the workers’ body said in a statement on March 3.