Maharashtra labour ministry issues notice to TCS over alleged forced transfers

The Maharashtra government’s labour department has served a notice to Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India’s largest IT services company, following complaints of purported forced transfers lodged by the labour union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES). NITES, an organization representing IT/ITeS and related-sector employees, claims that over 2,000 TCS employees were transferred without adequate lead time for relocation or an opportunity for consultation, causing undue hardship.

In a letter to the labour department, NITES president Harpreet Singh Saluja stated, “The company had threatened employees that failure to comply with the transfer directions will result in disciplinary actions.” NITES has urged the labour department to investigate TCS’s transfer practices, assessing whether they violate state labour laws, and take necessary actions. Allegedly, NITES has received over 300 complaints, accusing TCS of systematically coercing employees into relocating to different cities.

TCS’s communication to the affected employees, who were asked to relocate to Mumbai, included the following statement, “This is with reference to your transfer order to TCS Mumbai followed by a transfer email directing you to report to said branch within 14 days and complete the transfer process. However, it has been noted that you have failed to report to the transferred branch till date… the company is initiating a stoppage of your salary with immediate effect.” The Times of India has reportedly obtained a copy of the email.

The Maharashtra labor department has reportedly scheduled a formal meeting with TCS on January 18, seeking an explanation of the company’s position on the alleged forced transfers.