TCS Layoff Plan Faces Union Protest In Chennai (image: x.com/UNITEITORG)

Chennai, Tamil Nadu: The IT employees union UNITE organised a protest in Chennai on Tuesday against Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) over the company’s alleged plan to lay off 12,000 of its mid- and senior-level staff by the next fiscal year.

The protest was conducted in collaboration with the CPI(M)-affiliated Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU). The multi-city protest demanded the immediate withdrawal of the planned layoffs, seeking government intervention and action against TCS.

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The union claims the company is replacing its experienced workforce with new hires to cut salaries by as much as 80-85%.

Janani of UNITE told The New Indian Express: “TCS is in the process of laying off staff at senior and managerial levels. At the end of this, nearly 30,000 to 40,000 staff may lose their jobs.”

Meanwhile, speaking to The Hindu Business Line, TCS has denied the claim, saying that these assumptions are “incorrect” and “misleading.” The company reiterated that cuts are limited to about 2 percent of its workforce.

A press release from UNITE states that while top executives are getting “obscene” pay hikes, that are not given to the average employee. At the same time, the government has not made a statement and is still giving the company public contracts.

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Citing sources within TCS, some union members claimed that employees face poor infrastructure at the company’s Siruseri campus. While the firm is pushing for upskilling, the required courses are not accessible on employees’ personal devices, forcing them to find other computers to complete the courses, Business Line reports.