Infosys in Trouble? Govt Probes ‘Illegal’ Layoffs of Apprentices
Infosys Layoffs Under Scrutiny: Government Investigates Alleged Violation of Apprenticeship Act
Infosys, one of India’s leading IT giants, is facing government scrutiny over the alleged illegal termination of hundreds of apprentices. The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship has forwarded the complaint against Infosys to its Apprenticeship Division for further examination and necessary action.
Government Steps In: Investigation Underway
The Office of Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (I/C) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, has taken note of the complaint lodged by Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES). The ministry has directed Yoginder Kumar, Assistant Director of the Apprenticeship Division, to review the matter and provide an action-taken report to the complainant. The Economic Times has reviewed this letter.
According to a statement from Shreeshail Malge, Joint Secretary at the Ministry, the issue falls within the jurisdiction of the Apprenticeship Division, which will now examine the case and take appropriate action.
Infosys has not responded to queries seeking comment on the allegations.
The Allegations Against Infosys
Earlier this month, Harpreet Saluja, President of NITES, lodged a complaint with both the Education Ministry and the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, seeking immediate intervention in the matter.
NITES alleges that:
- Infosys enrolled hundreds of fresh graduates under the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) in October 2024.
- The company entered apprenticeship contracts with these individuals.
- In an alleged exploitative move, Infosys forcibly terminated these apprentices, violating legal provisions under the Apprentices Act, 1961, and Apprenticeship Rules, 1992.
What Does the Karnataka Labour Department Say?
Days before the central government took action, the Karnataka Labour Department conducted an interim investigation and found no violations of labour laws in the termination of over 300 trainees by Infosys. However, a final report is still pending.
Infosys’ Justification for the Terminations
Infosys claims that the terminations were based on internal assessments, stating that:
- The company hired the trainees two-and-a-half years ago but officially onboarded them only in October 2024.
- These apprentices were unable to clear three rounds of internal assessments, leading to their dismissal.
- The total number of layoffs is under 350, contradicting NITES’ claim of over 700 apprentices terminated.
Trainees Fight Back: Appeal to the PMO
Over 100 affected trainees have written to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), urging intervention in their reinstatement and seeking protection against unfair dismissals in the future.
What’s Next?
- The Apprenticeship Division is expected to complete its review and submit its findings soon.
- The final report from the Karnataka Labour Department is still awaited, which may provide further clarity on the matter.
- The PMO’s response to the trainees’ appeal could influence further action against Infosys if wrongdoing is established.
The controversy surrounding Infosys’ termination of apprentices is far from over. With the government stepping in, the IT giant may face serious consequences if found guilty of violating labour laws and apprenticeship regulations. As investigations unfold, the fate of the terminated apprentices remains uncertain.
