IT giant Infosys is facing criticism for laying off over 300 campus recruits, just a few months after they joined the company in October 2024.

According to Infosys, internal qualification exams that new hires had to pass following their foundational training at its Mysuru location were the reason behind the layoffs. After three tries, those who did not match the minimum requirements were given ultimatum letters and ordered to leave. "All freshers get three attempts to clear the assessment, failing which they will not be able to continue with the organisation, 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 a statement.

The Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), a labour rights group, has strongly criticised the move, calling it “shocking and unethical.” According to a report by The Economic Times, NITES plans to file a formal complaint with the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Employees have also alleged that the test syllabus and criteria were later changed, making it more difficult to pass. Most of the affected employees are from the 2022 engineering batch and have been waiting for over 2.5 years to join. Last year, more than 1,000 engineering graduates were finally hired as System Engineers (SE) and Digital SEs, with annual salaries between Rs 3.2 lakh and Rs 3.7 lakh. According to the source, 2,000 more graduates who were offered jobs by Infosys are still awaiting onboarding. 

NITES President Harpreet Singh Saluja, a lawyer who supports IT workers, accused Infosys of using "coercion and intimidation." He claimed the company sent security personnel to stop affected employees from using their mobile phones, leaving them unable to document what was happening or ask for help. “The company deployed bouncers and security personnel to ensure employees could not carry mobile phones, preventing them from documenting the incident or seeking help,” Saluja alleged.

However, Infosys stated that its assessment process has been in place for over 20 years and is clearly mentioned in employee contracts before they join. The company emphasised that all freshers are given three chances to pass the assessment. If they fail all three attempts, they cannot continue with the organisation. Infosys also highlighted that its strict hiring process helps maintain high standards and ensures top-quality talent for its clients.

Hundreds of fresh graduates have unexpectedly lost their jobs, prompting NITES to call for government intervention. The group is filing a formal complaint with the Ministry of Labour & Employment, urging strict action against Infosys. Earlier in January, Infosys stated that it was on track to hire 15,000 freshers this financial year and planned to recruit 20,000 campus graduates in the 2025-26 financial year.