New Delhi: Infosys, a well-known IT company, let go of hundreds of trainees at its Mysuru campus, causing a lot of upset and anger. The exact number of trainees affected is unclear, with estimates ranging from 300 to 700. These were freshers who had been waiting for up to two and a half years after getting their offer letters, only to be dismissed just a few months after starting in October 2024.
How it happened?
The layoffs were done with tight security. Trainees were called into meeting rooms in groups of about 50, where they were reportedly forced to sign “mutual separation” letters. There were even security guards to stop them from using their phones, making it difficult to document what was happening or ask for help. They were given very little notice and told to leave the campus by evening, which raised concerns about their safety, especially for women.
What the trainees went through:
The sudden firing left many trainees feeling devastated. One trainee from Madhya Pradesh was in tears, asking if she could stay just one more night because she had nowhere else to go. But the officials told her to leave by 6 pm, saying, “You are no longer part of the company.” Many trainees rushed to find transportation back home and struggled to figure out how to explain the situation to their families.
Why they were fired?
Infosys explained that the layoffs were due to trainees failing internal tests after three attempts, a policy that’s been in place for over 20 years. But some of the trainees believe the tests were made harder, and some even feel like they were set up to fail. There were reports that a few trainees fainted because of how devastating the situation was for them, especially with their futures looking uncertain.
Public reactions:
The layoffs have sparked a lot of anger and concern on social media. Many people are shocked and feel bad for the trainees. The NITES (Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate) plans to file a formal complaint, calling the layoffs “shocking and unethical.” This has raised bigger questions about job security and fair hiring practices in the Indian IT industry. Experts are saying that companies should have fairer ways of evaluating trainees and should offer more support before taking such drastic actions.
