"Infosys Responds to Allegations of Forced Layoffs: Narayan Murthy’s Company Makes Big Statement"

New Delhi: Infosys, one of India's leading IT services firms, has addressed recent allegations regarding the layoffs of trainees at its Mysuru campus. In a statement, the company clarified that no force or intimidation tactics were used when the layoffs occurred, and it is actively engaging with the labour department to explain the situation.

Shaji Mathew, Infosys’ Chief Human Resources Officer, acknowledged that the percentage of trainees failing assessments was slightly higher than in previous batches. However, he refuted claims that the assessments were intentionally designed to be difficult.

When questioned about the impact of these layoffs on Infosys' brand, particularly with plans to recruit 20,000 fresh graduates in the upcoming fiscal year, Mathew reassured that the hiring process was progressing as planned. He emphasized that new hires will receive top-tier corporate training.

In response to accusations that the company altered testing parameters and used coercive tactics, Mathew clarified that Infosys invests heavily in its training programs, both financially and in terms of effort. "It is in our best interest to ensure that all trainees succeed," he said. "We provide salaries during training, and it is a loss to both the trainees and the company if they do not clear the assessments." The 300 trainees affected had reportedly failed internal assessments after multiple attempts.

Regarding the Labour Ministry's directive to the Karnataka state labour department, Mathew stated that the department had been in communication with Infosys, and the company is cooperating fully with the authorities. He confirmed that the Labour Department had visited the company’s campuses in Bengaluru and Mysuru to better understand the training and assessment processes. "They have been quite supportive and understand the critical role these processes play in developing future talent for both Infosys and the IT industry," he added.

On the possibility of reinstating the terminated trainees, Mathew said there had been no request for their return.

The controversy erupted earlier this month when over 300 freshers, who had been onboarded after a two-year wait in October 2024, were let go after failing to pass internal assessments. This led to criticism from the IT employees union NITES, which sought government intervention and accused Infosys of pressuring trainees into signing "mutual separation" agreements.

Mathew strongly denied these allegations, insisting that no intimidation tactics or "bouncers" were involved. "We do not need bouncers to handle our trainees," he asserted. "We allowed some trainees who wished to stay on campus to do so."

This clarification comes as Infosys faces growing scrutiny over its handling of employee relations and recruitment practices.