NITES flags AI-led layoffs, seeks safeguards for tech workers
Calls for reskilling push, mandatory severance and stronger labour protections
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New Delhi: IT employees’ body Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) has urged companies to prioritise reskilling over layoffs and called for policy intervention to safeguard workers, amid rising job cuts linked to artificial intelligence (AI) adoption.
NITES president Harpreet Singh Saluja said firms investing heavily in AI must also invest in upskilling their workforce, stressing that layoffs should be a last resort. He called for clear guidelines on layoffs, mandatory notice periods, fair severance, and stronger employer accountability.
Highlighting gaps in India’s labour framework, Saluja said white-collar employees lack robust legal protections in the private sector. NITES plans to push for policy-level changes and stronger enforcement to prevent unfair layoffs and forced resignations.
The tech sector has witnessed significant downsizing in recent months, with companies such as Oracle, Google and Meta cutting jobs. While layoffs initially followed pandemic-era overhiring, experts say the shift towards AI, along with cost-cutting and investor pressure, is accelerating workforce restructuring.
Data from Layoffs.fyi shows over 70 tech firms have cut more than 40,000 jobs globally this year. Saluja described the trend as a structural shift towards leaner teams and flexible hiring, warning that long-term job security in tech is weakening.
He added that while new roles will emerge, companies are failing to manage the transition responsibly, often pushing employees out without adequate reskilling or support.
Saluja also highlighted the human impact of sudden layoffs, including anxiety, financial stress, and mental health challenges, criticising firms for a lack of support systems.
