The Indian Labour Ministry has formally issued a notice to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), summoning the IT giant for a joint discussion over the indefinite delay in onboarding more than 600 experienced lateral hires. This action came in direct response to a complaint lodged by the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), an IT employees' union, on July 22, 2025, highlighting severe economic and psychological strain on the impacted professionals.
According to NITES, all affected professionals many with 2 to 18 years of experience had resigned from stable jobs in cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi after receiving formal offer letters and confirmed joining dates from TCS. Upon reporting for duty, they were informed without prior notice of an indefinite postponement, with no revised start dates, further updates, or official communication from the company.
The delay has left the candidates facing unemployment, struggling to meet EMIs, rent, and basic living costs. Beyond financial hardship, several have reported deep emotional and psychological suffering due to the abrupt and unexplained deferral.
The Labour Ministry’s notice, issued through the office of the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), directs TCS’s Chairman and Managing Director (or a senior representative with decision-making authority) to appear for a joint discussion on August 1, 2025, in New Delhi. The letter requests any relevant written submissions to be presented in advance.
This official intervention is rare in private sector onboarding disputes and reflects the government’s growing responsiveness to the challenges faced by tech sector employees in the offer-to-joining phase, especially during volatile economic times.
Harpreet Singh Saluja, President of NITES, welcomed the Labour Ministry’s prompt response, stating: “This action is a reflection of the government’s commitment to protecting the rights and livelihoods of IT professionals,” and emphasized the urgent need to protect those caught in limbo by major employers.
In response, TCS reiterated its commitment to onboarding all offer holders both freshers and experienced professionals but reiterated that joining dates may be adjusted to meet fluctuating business demand. TCS stated, “Everyone who has received an offer from TCS will be onboarded. The joining dates are decided as per business demand... We remain in continuous touch with all candidates and look forward to them joining our company soon.”
