The Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), a national body advocating for IT and related sector employees, has submitted a detailed letter to Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. NITES alleged that Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has carried out illegal terminations of about 12,000 permanent employees.
NITES President and Bombay High Court advocate Harpreet Singh Saluja said the layoffs would have an overwhelming impact on thousands of families, particularly those of employees above 40 years of age who may find it difficult to secure alternate employment.
Not restructuring but a mass sacking
Saluja said this was not restructuring but a mass sacking disguised in corporate language. He further warned that such actions by a major IT firm like TCS could set a dangerous precedent for the entire sector, eroding job security and damaging trust in India’s employment ecosystem.
The complaint, dated July 28, follows two previous submissions from NITES earlier this month and accuses TCS of violating labour laws under the pretext of restructuring and artificial intelligence adoption.
Indian law clearly requires companies to issue at least one month’s notice
NITES claimed that Indian law clearly requires companies to issue at least one month’s notice, offer compensation, and inform the government prior to retrenchment of employees who have served for more than a year. TCS, according to the union, has not complied with any of these legal requirements.
The union called on the Ministry of Labour and Employment to take immediate action, including issuing a notice to TCS, halting the terminations, initiating a government inquiry, and strengthening legal safeguards for IT sector employees.
According to NITES, a company-wide internal email was circulated by TCS management recently, informing staff about large-scale layoffs. The organisation said that most of the affected employees are mid- to senior-level professionals with 10 to 20 years of experience.
Layoffs were carried out without any prior notice
NITES termed the move “inhumane” and “blatantly illegal,” adding the layoffs were carried out without any prior notice or formal communication. The employee body said mandatory legal procedures, including notice to the government, were not followed.
The union also expressed concern over TCS’ recent delay in onboarding more than 600 lateral hires who had already resigned from previous roles, and the company’s alleged misuse of its bench policy to pressure employees into voluntary resignations.
NITES also demanded accountability from TCS’ top leadership, pointing to rising CEO compensation in contrast with the thousands now losing their livelihoods.
NITES will be forced to launch nationwide protests
NITES warned that if the government fails to act, the organization, along with allied IT unions, will be forced to launch nationwide protests, legal campaigns, and public demonstrations to defend the rights of affected employees.
Calling the situation urgent and unjust, Saluja said, “These are not just numbers. These are lives. These are families. And this exploitation cannot be allowed to continue under the guise of innovation or restructuring.”
TCS has not yet responded to the allegations.