The Union of IT & ITES Employees (UNITE) held demonstrations in several Indian cities on Tuesday, voicing concern over Tata Consultancy Services’ (TCS) ongoing workforce restructuring. The union claimed that nearly 30,000 employees could be impacted, though the company has dismissed the estimate as “misleading,” saying the real number will be closer to 12,000 — about 2 per cent of its global headcount.
The protests were backed by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). UNITE leaders urged TCS to reconsider its decision and called for government intervention. They warned that the eventual layoffs may far exceed the company’s stated figures.
Chandra Shekar Azad, UNITE’s Joint Secretary, said that employees across levels — including those with long experience and proven leadership abilities — were being targeted, creating widespread uncertainty. General Secretary Alangunambi Welkin added that UNITE, which has around 300 members with 50–60 from TCS, is considering taking its campaign to an international level through coordination with global labour organisations.
Some members also flagged operational issues at TCS’s Siruseri campus, alleging restricted access to official upskilling platforms on personal devices. These claims, however, remain unverified.
TCS Responds
In its statement, TCS rejected the allegations, calling them “incorrect and misleading.” The company stressed that the changes are part of an organisational restructuring aimed at strengthening capabilities in cloud, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. With more than 600,000 employees worldwide, TCS remains one of India’s largest private-sector employers.
Executives added that severance and transition assistance will be provided to affected employees. They also clarified in a separate meeting with Karnataka labour officials that the company has not yet finalised the number of job reductions or their geographical distribution.
Regulatory Scrutiny
Earlier this month, TCS representatives met with Karnataka’s labour department and members of the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU), which had filed a complaint alleging labour law violations. Labour authorities directed the union to compile and submit specific grievances from impacted employees, while reminding TCS that due process and fair compensation must be ensured under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.
Officials said the matter is under review and a conciliation meeting has been scheduled in early September. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has also confirmed it is monitoring developments closely.
Industry Context
India’s IT services sector has been navigating rapid shifts in client demand, with companies moving toward product-centric delivery models. Nasscom, the industry’s apex body, has noted that such transitions could result in restructuring of traditional roles across large firms like TCS.
