Pune Labour Commissioner Summons TCS After NITES Files Layoff Complaints

Labour Commissioner of Pune Summons TCS as NITES Flags Rising Layoff Complaints

In a major development that has intensified scrutiny on India’s largest IT services company, the Labour commissioner of Pune summons TCS following multiple complaints filed by the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES). The hearing, scheduled for November 18, 2025, comes amid allegations that Tata Consultancy Services has been laying off employees without due process as part of its global workforce restructuring.

This is the most significant intervention from labour authorities in recent years involving a top IT services firm, and marks a rare instance of a state-level labour department summoning a major corporate entity over large-scale employee grievances.

NITES Flags 2,500 Layoffs, Forced Resignations and Dues Denial

The escalation began after months of rising discontent among mid- to senior-level TCS employees. Over the past several months, NITES has repeatedly appealed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, claiming that TCS had illegally laid off nearly 2,500 employees in Pune alone.

According to NITES, the complaints include allegations of:

• Abrupt terminations

• Forced resignations

• Denial of statutory dues

• Coercive employment practices

• Layoffs without notice or transparent evaluation

In an official post on X on November 15, the union said:
“Over the past several months, NITES has received a large number of complaints from TCS employees across various locations regarding abrupt terminations, forced resignations, denial of statutory dues, and coercive employment practices.”

The union noted that after reviewing documents and evidence submitted by affected employees, it assisted them in filing formal complaints before the Labour Commissioner.

NITES added that the step taken by authorities reinforces a key principle: employers must abide by proper procedure. “The initiation of proceedings by the Labour Commissioner reinforces that every employer is legally bound to follow due process and cannot act in violation of labour laws,” the statement read.

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TCS Layoffs Add Momentum to Growing Employee Concerns

The summons arrives at a time when TCS is undergoing a significant restructuring. As part of its strategy to become more agile and future-ready amid rapid technological disruption, TCS plans to cut about 2% of its global workforce, or over 12,000 employees, between April 2025 and March 2026.

The move will impact employees across countries and business domains, marking one of the largest planned downsizing phases for the company in the past decade.

During TCS’ Q2 FY26 earnings conference in October, Chief HR Officer Sudeep Kunnumal confirmed that the company had already released 1% of its workforce—approximately 6,000 employees—as part of the ongoing restructuring exercise.

TCS Denies Large-Scale Layoff Rumours

While the Labour commissioner of Pune summons TCS has triggered concerns across the IT sector, TCS has maintained that speculation around massive job cuts is exaggerated. When confronted about rumours claiming that the layoffs could reach as high as 50,000–80,000 employees, Kunnumal firmly dismissed them, calling the numbers “extremely exaggerated” and “not factual.”

The company insists that the restructuring is a targeted operational move, not a broad-based downsizing. However, TCS’ reported headcount numbers indicate a deeper shift. As of Q2, the company logged a sequential headcount decline of 19,755 employees, its steepest decline in several quarters.

This sharp reduction—combined with NITES’ allegations—has heightened scrutiny over how the workforce reshaping is being implemented.

Why the Case Has Drawn National Attention

The development that the Labour commissioner of Pune summons TCS is significant for several reasons:

1. Rare intervention against a top-tier IT giant

IT companies typically fall into grey zones of labour regulation, and it is uncommon for a commissioner to issue a direct summons to a firm of TCS’ scale.

2. Raises questions about due process in the IT sector

The industry has traditionally operated with flexible employment rules, but recurring layoffs and contract disputes have led to growing pushback from unions.

3. Highlights rising employee activism in India’s tech sector

NITES has increasingly taken a central role in supporting affected employees from major IT firms including Infosys, Wipro, and Capgemini.

4. Reflects pressure on legacy IT firms amid global slowdown

Budget cuts, automation, and AI reshaping IT workforces globally have pushed Indian IT giants to restructure aggressively.

What’s Next for TCS and the Labour Commissioner’s Inquiry

The November 18 hearing is expected to review complaints submitted by NITES, seek responses from TCS, and examine whether labour law violations may have occurred.

Depending on the findings, authorities may direct TCS to:

• Reinstate certain employees

• Offer pending dues

• Modify termination procedures

• Ensure compliance with state and central employment laws

For now, TCS has not issued a public statement regarding the summons. Industry observers say the case’s outcome could set an important precedent for how India’s IT sector manages restructuring and layoffs.

A Crucial Test for Employee Rights in the IT Sector

As restructuring accelerates across the global tech landscape, the development that the Labour commissioner of Pune summons TCS is being viewed as a critical test case for India’s IT workforce protections.

The coming weeks will determine whether the allegations reflect isolated grievances or systemic challenges in how large IT firms adapt to technological transformation.

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