Wipro Mandatory Pre-Skill Training Sparks Backlash Over Onboarding Delays

Wipro Limited is currently facing significant scrutiny as it grapples with a backlog of un-onboarded freshers from previous recruitment cycles.

As of February 2026, the company has introduced a “pre-skill training plan” for hundreds of engineering graduates who have been waiting for joining dates for nearly a year.

This move has prompted the Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) to seek government intervention, alleging unfair recruitment practices.

Prolonged Delays and Union Intervention

According to NITES, over 250 freshers who received Letters of Intent (LoI) as early as May 2025 remain in a state of “indefinite suspension.”

Despite completing background verifications and receiving tentative joining locations, many candidates have received only vague or automated responses regarding their official start dates.

NITES President Harpreet Singh Saluja recently filed a formal complaint with the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, stating that the delays have caused severe financial and mental distress.

The ministry has since referred the matter to the Karnataka Labour Department for a detailed review.

Wipro Pre-Skill Training and “Elimination” Risks

Wipro’s latest outreach involves a mandatory pre-skilling training program, often referred to as the Project Readiness Program (PRP) or NextGen Associate (NGA) training.

While the company frames this as a way to ensure “industry readiness,” the program has drawn criticism for its high stakes:

• Mandatory Clearing: Candidates must typically achieve an overall score of at least 60%.
• Termination Clause: Failure to pass the assessment can result in the immediate revocation of the offer letter.
• Salary Adjustments: In previous instances, candidates were asked to accept lower salary packages (e.g., ₹3.5 LPA instead of ₹6.5 LPA) as a condition of continued onboarding eligibility.

Shifting Focus to AI-Ready Talent

Wipro’s leadership has acknowledged a strategic pivot in its hiring approach.

During the Q3 FY26 earnings call, CHRO Saurabh Govil indicated that the company is refining its intake to focus on “AI-led projects.”

Consequently, Wipro has scaled back its FY26 campus hiring target from 10,000 to approximately 7,500–8,000 recruits, prioritizing candidates who demonstrate “AI fluency” and technical expertise in niche domains.

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