Infosys layoffs: In a fresh round of terminations, Infosys has let go of 195 more trainees at its Mysuru campus, according to a report by Moneycontrol. This marks the fourth round of layoffs at the Bengaluru-based IT giant, reportedly due to trainees failing internal assessments, as per the emails accessed by the outlet.
This brings the total number of affected trainees to around 800 since February. The company terminated around 240 people on April 18, 45 trainees in March and around 300 in February, after they failed to pass internal assessments despite three consecutive attempts.
The company is offering free upskilling programs through NIIT and UpGrad to those affected, the report maintained. Around 250 people have enrolled in upskilling programmes, while about 150 have registered for outplacement services.
Infosys layoffs: What did the email say?
“Further to the announcement of the results of your final assessment attempt, please be informed that you have not met the qualifying criteria in the ‘Generic foundation training program’ despite the additional preparation time, doubt-clearing sessions, several mock assessments and three attempts. As a result, you will not be able to continue your journey for the apprenticeship program,” read the email sent to entry-level employees on April 29, as per Moneycontrol.
The layoffs come hot on the heels of the company’s Q4 report, where it narrowed its revenue growth guidance for FY26 in constant currency terms to 0- 3 per cent in comparison to 4.5 per cent to 5 per cent as was projected in the December quarter.
Earlier, Infosys let go of 700 trainees who had been hired two-and-a-half years ago but were onboarded in October 2024. The company stated that these people failed to pass the company’s internal assessments. However, many have complained that the difficulty level of the test was higher compared to previous ones.
‘We cannot call it a layoff’
Acting on the complaints opposing the layoffs at Infosys as “illegal, unethical, and a violation of labour laws”, Karnataka Labour Department gave a clean chit to Infosys on February 27.
“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,” Moneycontrol quoted a source.
Infosys on layoffs
Following the complaints, Infosys defended its decision, highlighting the role of performance evaluations in the training process.
“Every trainee joins with the clear understanding that performance evaluations are an integral part of their development and progress. While we understand the disappointment of individuals who have not been able to clear the assessment, it is important to understand the facts surrounding this situation. Each trainee who joins Infosys fills an Apprenticeship Registration Form, accepting their apprenticeship with Infosys, where the training cost is borne entirely by Infosys,” the company had said in a statement.
It added, “Our testing processes are articulated in the evaluation policy document and also communicated proactively to all trainees. Also, as part of the evaluation process, negative marking is across all the three attempts where Multiple-Choice Questions formats are followed.”
“This is part of the evaluation policy document and is also communicated proactively at the time of induction of our trainees. Furthermore, all eligible trainees (over 98%) have received their relieving letter upon separation, along with outplacement services, severance pay, and counselling among other measures, as shared earlier,” the statement, issued by Infosys, further read.