L&T Does a Flipkart: 1,500 Jobs Cancelled, Students Go On Strike

Students not only feel cheated, but are also apprehensive about repaying education loans.

Students are on a hunger strike after L&T has cancelled over 1,500 jobs. (Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

A week after Flipkart faced the music, L&T Infotech is now under fire for cancelling offer letters given to at least 1,500 students in various colleges, as reported by News18.

Students have alleged that the company sent an e-mail saying offers made to them were being cancelled as their performance was not up to the mark. In protest, students began a hunger strike on Monday.

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“We Were Cheated,” Say Students

On 6 April this year, a year and a half after receiving a placement letter, students were shocked after receiving rejection mails based on an “unscheduled assessment test” L&T had conducted a few weeks back.

I haven’t told my parents yet, and I might have to go back to let them marry me off. This is the next battle.

A student on strike

The News Minute reports that on 26 May, a group of 6,500 candidates were provided offer of intent letters. While the letter specified that they were not legally binding, along with it came a mail that said,“You are now part of L&T Infotech.”

Students, therefore, did not sit for tests of other recruiters.

We were given instructions by the placement cells not to sit for any other interviews. And not even subtle verbal ones – they were mails and warnings sent out in bold, huge letters. I am a university topper, but this cruel joke was played on me.

A student

Apart from Flipkart and L&T, companies like InMobi, CarDekho and Hopscotch have also reportedly deferred the joining dates for students. (Photo: iStockPhoto)

Something Smells Fishy

Offer letters getting cancelled after mails of joining dates being issued due to “unscheduled assessment tests”, therefore, comes as a surprise.

The News Minute reports that the HR representatives of L&T Infotech who handled these placements have resigned.

Students are not only on hunger strike, but are also demanding compensation.

À La Flipkart?

Last week, Flipkart drew students’ ire after it deferred the joining date for IIM-A graduates, citing structural changes.

The news of L&T going the same route has elicited a similar response. Students claim that they were relying on these jobs to repay their loans, and will now be left stranded.

They (L&T) kept us engaged in doing some work or the other and kept telling us not to panic, we will be giving you the joining date and that increased our hopes.

A student

The fiasco has revived memories of last year, when engineering students took to the streets to protests against jobs promised and revoked by HCL Ltd. According to reports, companies like InMobi, CarDekho and Hopscotch have also reportedly deferred the joining dates for students.

The entire episode and its repercussions are, however, outside the jurisdiction of the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, as the IT industry does not fall under it.