Bengaluru : The Karnataka Labour Department has given a clean chit to Infosys regarding the recent exit of trainees from its Mysuru campus, stating that no labour laws were violated as there was no employer-employee relationship.
Findings of the Labour Department
A senior labour department official confirmed that Infosys would not be held accountable under layoff regulations, as the affected individuals were classified as trainees rather than full-time employees.
“They were all only trainees, and some underwent training for three months. We cannot call it a layoff, so these labour laws are not applicable in such cases. A layoff applies only when there is regular employment. There is no employer-employee relationship at all. They were all apprenticeship trainees, not employees,” a source said.
The final report on the matter is expected to be submitted to the government on March 4.
Background of the Controversy
On February 7, Infosys laid off around 350-400 trainees at its Mysuru campus after they failed evaluation tests in three consecutive attempts. The move affected nearly half of the trainees who had joined the company in October 2024.
Following concerns raised by the Pune-based IT employee union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), the Union Labour Ministry directed Karnataka’s Labour Commissioner and Labour Secretary to investigate the matter. Labour department officials subsequently visited Infosys campuses in Bengaluru and Mysuru to assess the situation.
Infosys' Stand on the Issue
Infosys has maintained that it followed its established policies, which require freshers to pass assessments to continue with the organization. The company also stated that it provided support, including transport, counselling, and accommodation, for affected trainees.
NITES president Harpreet Singh Saluja has warned of protests outside Infosys' Mysuru campus if the government fails to take further action. However, the Karnataka Labour Department’s latest findings indicate that the company is unlikely to face any legal consequences in the matter.
