Infosys Layoffs Stir Govt Response, Karnataka Issued Notice After Sacked Trainees Reach Out to PMO

New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has reportedly intervened in the recent layoffs at Infosys’ Mysuru campus issuing a letter to the Karnataka Labour Commissioner urging necessary action. The ministry's letter, dated February 25, directs the state labour authorities to look into the matter and keep both the affected employees and the central office informed.

The development comes after more than 100 trainees who were recently sacked by Infosys approached the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) seeking intervention. The sacked employees, who failed an internal assessment test, have also urged the PMO to implement measures preventing such layoffs in the future.

Earlier this month, Infosys, India’s second-largest IT services firm, came under fire for terminating over 300 freshers who had undergone foundational training at its Mysuru campus but failed to clear the company’s internal assessments. The affected trainees had waited nearly two years for onboarding before finally joining in October 2024, only to be laid off within months.

The layoffs prompted a response from the IT employee union NITES, which sought urgent intervention from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, demanding strict action against the company.

“Various complaints which are received by this office addressed to the PMO are enclosed herewith. The applicants are requesting the intervention of the Ministry of Labour & Employment to ensure their reinstatement in employment and to prevent similar unfair dismissals from happening to other employees in the future," the central labour ministry stated in its letter.

The Karnataka Labour Commissioner is now expected to review the complaints and take appropriate steps in the matter.

On the other hand, Pune-based IT workers' union, Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), has warned that it will not hesitate to stage a protest alongside the recently laid-off Infosys trainees if the government fails to take “appropriate” action.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, NITES reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the affected employees, stating, “We will continue to stand by these employees until they receive the fairness and dignity they deserve. While we are currently urging the authorities to ensure justice, if the government does not take the necessary steps, NITES, along with all affected employees, will not hesitate to launch a large-scale protest outside the Infosys campus."

The union stressed the urgency of addressing what it described as an “injustice” and insisted that those responsible must be held accountable.