India’s largest IT services company, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), is facing widespread criticism and protests following its announcement to lay off approximately 12,000 employees.
The move, which the company describes as part of a wider restructuring strategy, has ignited a storm of opposition from workers and unions who argue the decision is unjustified and profit-driven.
The protests, spearheaded by the IT workers’ union UNITE, have seen employees and activists gather in major technology hubs to voice their anger. Placards demanding job security and chants against what they call “corporate greed” have been a recurring feature of demonstrations in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune.
Union leaders insist that the layoffs disproportionately target experienced staff, many of whom have spent years building their careers at TCS. According to UNITE, these professionals are being forced out at a time when the IT sector continues to post healthy profits. “This is not about survival—it’s about squeezing margins and discarding loyal workers in the name of efficiency,” a union representative said.
TCS, however, maintains that the layoffs are a necessary part of its restructuring plan as the company adapts to changing market dynamics and accelerates its push into automation and artificial intelligence. In a statement, the company reassured stakeholders that the restructuring would position TCS for long-term growth while offering “fair severance packages, reskilling opportunities, and career support” for those affected.
Despite these assurances, industry watchers say the layoffs raise troubling questions about job security in India’s IT sector, which employs millions and has long been seen as a cornerstone of the country’s middle-class growth. The sudden downsizing at such a prestigious firm has rattled both employees and clients, sparking fears of a wider trend across the industry.
Calls for government intervention are growing louder. Labour rights groups and opposition politicians have urged authorities to step in, arguing that such large-scale layoffs will destabilize thousands of families and hurt local economies in tech-dependent cities. Some have called for legislation that would require greater transparency and negotiation between companies and unions before mass job cuts can be implemented.
Meanwhile, analysts are divided. Some argue that TCS is right to restructure now in order to remain competitive globally, pointing to increased pressure from automation and cloud-based services that reduce the need for traditional IT support. Others believe the company could have managed the transition more gradually, investing more in retraining rather than letting thousands of employees go at once.
For the affected workers, however, the debate offers little consolation. Many fear finding comparable jobs in an already saturated market, especially for mid-career professionals whose salaries are higher than those of younger recruits. “We gave years of our lives to this company, and now we are being told we are expendable,” said one protesting employee.
As demonstrations continue, the standoff between TCS and its workforce highlights a deeper tension in the tech industry balancing profitability and innovation with the livelihoods of the people who helped build its success.
