In a recent wave of layoffs, Infosys, under the leadership of Narayana Murthy, has released 195 more trainees from its Mysuru campus, as reported by Moneycontrol. The layoffs are attributed to inadequate performance and failed internal assessments.
According to an email obtained by Moneycontrol, the notice stated, “Following the announcement of your final assessment results, it has been determined that you did not meet the qualifying standards in the ‘Generic foundation training program’ despite receiving additional preparation time, doubt-clearing sessions, multiple mock assessments, and three attempts. Consequently, you will not be able to proceed in the apprenticeship program.”
This incident represents the fourth round of trainee layoffs by the IT service provider. Previously, around 300 trainees were let go in February, followed by 35 in March, and 240 on April 18, all under similar conditions. The latest round has increased the total number of individuals affected to nearly 800 since February.
The report highlights that Infosys is providing free upskilling opportunities to those impacted by the layoffs through NIIT and UpGrad. Approximately 250 individuals have signed up for these upskilling courses, while about 150 have registered for outplacement services.
Furthermore, Infosys will reportedly sponsor training for those who choose to participate in the Infosys Business Process Management (BPM) programme, a 12-week training initiative that offers alternative career paths for those affected. In addition, individuals who opt not to join the programme will receive transportation from Mysuru to Bangalore along with a standard travel allowance to their hometown.
Earlier, the Karnataka Labour Department cleared Infosys of any wrongdoing following a complaint regarding the layoffs in February.
“They were all only trainees, and some received training for just three months. We cannot classify this as a layoff, and therefore labour laws do not apply in such scenarios. A layoff pertains only to regular employment. There is no established employer-employee relationship. They were all apprenticeship trainees, not employees,” a source quoted by Moneycontrol stated.