IT labour union, NITES has now submitted complaints about Infosys laying off freshers to the Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan Ji, and the Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jayant Chaudhary Ji, demanding immediate intervention.
Harpreet Singh Saluja, President of NITES, alleged that Infosys engaged these fresh graduates under the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) in October 2024, entering into legally binding apprenticeship contracts. However, in violation of The Apprentices Act, 1961, and The Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, Infosys “forcibly terminated” these apprentices without following the required legal procedures.
As per the Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, an employer terminating an apprenticeship contract prematurely must pay the apprentice a three-month stipend, a legal obligation he pointed out that Infosys has failed to fulfill.
The law also requires that any apprentice’s termination must be approved by the Apprenticeship Adviser, with an opportunity for the apprentice to present their case.
Alongside, he observed that the first six months of apprenticeship constitute a probationary period, during which either party must formally apply for early termination with due notice.
In light of these violations, he said that NITES has called for an urgent government inquiry into Infosys’ unlawful terminations, an immediate reinstatement of all affected apprentices with payment of pending stipends, strict legal action and penalties against Infosys for violating The Apprentices Act, 1961, and The Apprenticeship Rules, 1992, and a directive ensuring Infosys and other corporations follow due process before terminating apprentices in the future.
“Such mass terminations going unchecked will set a dangerous precedent for corporations to exploit young professionals without accountability. The essence of India’s apprenticeship program is to provide structured skill development and career stability which is at risk of being reduced to a mere formality. Infosys’ actions have not only caused distress to affected apprentices but have also raised serious concerns about corporate influence over regulatory bodies, as evidenced by the Karnataka Labour Department’s consistent bias in favor of Infosys,” Saluja added.