Days after Pune-based information technology (IT) union NITES approached the Ministry of Labour and Employment to intervene in the matter of onboarding delays of freshers in IT major Infosys, it has again submitted a complaint alleging “biassed action” by Karnataka State Labor Department.
On August 20, Pune-based IT union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) submitted a complaint against Infosys for the “ongoing exploitation and unprofessional treatment” of over 2,000 young engineering graduates who were selected for System Engineer (SE) and Digital Specialist Engineer (DSE) roles during the 2022-23 recruitment drive.
These graduates, after being issued offer letters as early as April 2022, were being subjected to “continuous delays in the onboarding process, unpaid pre-training programs, and unexpected additional assessments”.
Acting on the complaint, the office of Chief Labour Commissioner (C) sent a notice to the Karnataka State Labour Department asking to take suitable action on September 3, 2024.
ALSO READ | Centre asks Karnataka to action against Infosys over onboarding delays
However, the Karnataka state Labour Department on September 20 wrote to the Central Government that the complaint was “lacking information” and Harpreet Singh Saluja, President of the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), did not furnish the required details of the complaint.
“With reference to your correspondence dated September 3, 2024, a meeting had been scheduled with the team from Infosys……Furthermore, an email was dispatched to Harpreet Singh Saluja, President of the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), on the same date, requesting information regarding various grievances reported by young graduates from Infosys Limited. However, a response was received from NITES on September 16, 2024, which was lacking in information and the specific grievances of the young graduates from Infosys was not enclosed,” said the letter by Dr G Manjunath, Additional Labour Commissioner (Industrial Relations), Government of Karnataka.
The official also informed that during the meeting on September 12, Infosys submitted a letter claiming the reports of onboarding delays were “patently false”.
“We understand the concerns were related to specific graduates selected for System Engineer and Digital Specialist Engineer roles at Infosys during the 2022-23 freshers' recruitment drive and associated virtual pre-training program in July 2024. Infosys wishes to submit that the allegations are patently false. These graduates have received the date of joining with Infosys….,” read the letter by Infosys submitted to Karnataka state Labour Department.
ALSO READ | Infosys 2022-batch onboarding delays: Dates changed but everyone with offer will join, says CEO
Saluja on October 1, 2024, again approached the Ministry of Labour and Employment alleging that the Karnataka State Labor Department has been “negligent in its handling of the grievances”.
“The Karnataka State Labor Department has been grossly negligent in its handling of the grievances raised by these graduates, displaying a blatant disregard for their rights and welfare…..An email was sent to NITES official email ID from Dr. G Manjunath, Additional Labour Commissioner (Industrial Relations) seeking the details of grievances from young engineering graduates from Infosys. After collecting the data on 16 September 2024 NITES reverted back to the Karnataka State Labour Ministry with attaching details of candidates in pdf format. The attached PDF document provided specific details of these cases, including names, email addresses, contact numbers, and offer letter dates. Apart from this numerous graduates have shared their grievances on the PMO portal and social media, detailing how they have been denied their joining dates despite having accepted employment offers, Saluja claimed in his letter to the Ministry.
“Despite providing these evidences, the Karnataka State Labor Department has failed to address the concerns of these graduates in a transparent and effective manner. Their response to the Central Labor Commission (CLC) has been misleading, falsely claiming that our response was "lacking in information." This is a blatant disregard for the facts and a clear attempt to shield Infosys from accountability,” the letter added, requesting intervention in the matter.
ALSO READ | Infosys issues offer letters to remaining 2,000 freshers from 2022 campus hires, says employee union
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