Infosys plans to add 18,000 employees by July

Software major Infosys will absorb some 18,000 students from various engineering colleges across the country in 2009-10 in July this year even as the IT bellwether said is is downsizing its Australian operations because of some redundancies.

Infosys's Australian subsidiary, which it acquired six years ago, employs some 360 people, a majority of them from its acquisition Expert Information Services.

Infosys chief executive S Gopalakrishnan told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Kochi that the company is planning to absorb all 18,000 engineering students of the 2009-01 batch it had offered jobs.

''We have made offers to 18,000 students from different campuses for the 2009-10 batch. They will be joining us in July this year,'' he said, adding, Infosys had honoured all its previous commitments.

Although Infosys has scaled down recruitments, it is still hiring people, Gopalakrishnan said, adding, the present 16 weeks training would, however, be extended by another six to eight weeks.

He said if the situation turns worse, IT companies across the spectrum may be forced to lay off staff. "It is hoped the situation will improve by mid 2010 and in the worst case by 2014," he said.

Last year the information technology industry grew at 33 per cent. This year Nasscom expects it to be below 15 per cent.

Infosys, he said, would expand its presence in India, the Middle East and Latin America, South America, Europe and was already focussing on Japan.