Left jobless despite confirmed offers: Why is Kerala IT forum Prathidhwani raising alarm over TCS hiring practices?

Prathidhwani, the welfare and recreation forum of Kerala Infopark employees, has flagged serious concerns over sudden onboarding delays by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), stating that confirmed hiring in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi has been adversely affected.

The forum said several experienced professionals who had resigned and completed notice periods based on official offers from TCS were informed—sometimes on the very day of joining—that their onboarding was being postponed by two to three months or indefinitely.

“This has left numerous professionals jobless and without income, subjecting their families to immense stress,” said Prathidhwani. “Such last-minute changes are unacceptable, especially when livelihoods are at stake.”

The group has called on industry bodies, government authorities, and HR leadership forums to take cognisance of the matter. “No professional should be left stranded after resigning in good faith based on a formal offer from a reputed company,” it said.

NITES urges Labour Ministry to act

According to media reports, the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) sent a letter on July 22 to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, urging government intervention over the issue.

NITES stated that over 600 experienced professionals — with 2 to 18 years of work experience — are currently facing indefinite onboarding delays from TCS, despite having received confirmed offer letters. Many had relocated, resigned from stable jobs, and made financial commitments based on official communications.

The forum has been receiving frequent distress calls from candidates who feel abandoned and deceived.

TCS cites shifting business priorities

Meanwhile, TCS acknowledged the onboarding delays and attributed them to shifting business requirements and deal-closure timelines. The company assured that all offers would be honoured, with joining dates aligned to evolving business demands.

This is not the first time such delays have occurred at TCS. In 2023, over 200 lateral hires were similarly affected. The trend mirrors industry-wide patterns, where firms like Infosys and Wipro also postponed onboarding after post-pandemic mass hiring faced a project slowdown.