Bengaluru, July 23, 2025 — Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has indefinitely delayed the onboarding of more than 600 experienced lateral hires, triggering significant backlash. The National Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) formally filed a complaint with the Ministry of Labour and Employment, urging government action.
Lateral hires, with 2 to 18 years of experience, had accepted confirmed offers and resigned from previous roles. However, on their scheduled joining days, many were denied entry at TCS offices despite holding valid offer letters—leaving them jobless and financially strained YouTube+8EdexLive+8Uniindia+8.
NITES Complaint Flags Breach of Trust
In its letter, NITES described the situation as an “exploitative practice” and a “criminal breach of trust” EdexLive. It highlighted the sudden lack of communication and no revised timelines, prompting professionals to make desperate calls and emails to TCS HR EdexLive+2Uniindia+2The Times of India+2.
Locations & Personal Impact
Affected hires come from major IT hubs—including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi The Times of India+7EdexLive+7Uniindia+7. With no income, many are struggling to pay rent, EMIs, and daily expenses, while the psychological toll continues to mount Uniindia.
Official Responses & Company Justification
TCS acknowledged the delay but attributed it to “business requirement changes”, without offering a revised timeline The Times of India+7Business Standard+7The Times of India+7. Meanwhile, NITES is pushing for three key interventions: immediate onboarding, compensation for delay, and mental health support via EAP StartupNews.fyi+8Business Standard+8EdexLive+8.
Legal and Ethical Concerns
According to Harpreet Singh Saluja, President of NITES and Bombay High Court advocate, offer letters with joining dates are binding agreements. NITES plans to seek ministerial directives and raise labour law scrutiny if TCS fails to take corrective action EdexLive+1Uniindia+1.
Broader IT Sector Implications
This incident underscores a troubling trend in India’s IT hiring ecosystem, where lateral hiring freezes and delays have become commonplace amid market slowdowns. Analysts warn such practices could erode trust in major employers and destabilize talent markets.
Government Intervention & Next Steps
The Ministry of Labour and Employment is now reviewing the official complaint filed by NITES. If TCS’s stance persists, the case could escalate to legal action or regulatory penalties. NITES seeks urgent timelines, financial compensation, and alternative employment options for the affected hires StartupNews.fyi+4Uniindia+4The Economic Times+4.
Potential Aftermath
Failure to address the grievances may significantly damage TCS’s employer brand and trust among prospective hires. Other firms could follow suit by reviewing hiring practices, compensation obligations, and internal processes for joining delays.
Conclusion
The ongoing onboarding delay at TCS, affecting over 600 seasoned professionals, has escalated into a Labour Ministry issue, with NITES calling it both unethical and legally questionable. The response from TCS and the government in the coming days will set an important precedent for employment practices in India’s IT sector.
