In yet another wave of trainee dismissals, Infosys has reportedly let go of 195 trainees from its Mysuru training campus due to poor performance in internal assessments. The fresh layoffs, reported, mark the fourth round of such terminations since February 2025, bringing the total number of affected trainees to approximately 800.
The internal communication cited by the report reads:
“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.”
The company stated that due to the repeated inability to meet performance benchmarks, those trainees could not continue on the path to the Infosys apprenticeship program.
Infosys Offers Upskilling Support and Alternative Career Paths
While the decision has triggered discussions about employment practices, Infosys is offering support packages to those impacted. Affected individuals are being provided free upskilling programs through NIIT and UpGrad, aimed at enhancing their employment prospects. Reports indicate that about 250 trainees have enrolled in these upskilling programs, and 150 have registered for outplacement services.
Additionally, Infosys has offered an alternative route through its Business Process Management (BPM) division, which includes a 12-week training program. Those who successfully complete the BPM program may be offered roles within the organization. Trainees who do not wish to participate are being provided transport facilities to Bangalore and standard travel allowances for returning to their hometowns.
The company maintains that the steps taken are in line with corporate training policies and performance standards. The approach, Infosys suggests, aims to ensure that only those trainees who meet foundational competencies continue toward apprenticeship or employment.
Labour Department Calls Dismissals Valid Under Apprenticeship Norms
The Karnataka Labour Department, which previously reviewed a similar complaint filed after the February layoffs, has already given Infosys a clean chit. Officials clarified that the affected individuals were apprentices, not regular employees, and thus, conventional labour laws related to layoffs do not apply.
“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. There is no employer-employee relationship at all,” a government source told.
Earlier this year, Infosys terminated around 300 trainees in February, followed by 35 in March and 240 in April, all reportedly due to failed assessments. The company maintains that these actions are part of routine performance-based filtering during the training period and not indicative of broader downsizing efforts.
Despite the company’s explanations, the layoffs have sparked debate around corporate accountability in trainee programs, especially given the high aspirations attached to onboarding with major IT firms like Infosys. With the industry’s intense focus on productivity and efficiency, the developments may trigger further scrutiny of how companies manage apprenticeship-to-employment pipelines.