IT firms exploiting young engineers: Karnataka deputy opposition leader Bellad

Arvind Bellad of the BJP, who is the deputy leader of the Opposition in Karnataka, has alleged that IT firms are exploiting youth in the name of “apprenticeship”.

“Young workers are paid meagre wages while being made to work like full-time employees — without essential benefits like PF, health insurance, or paid leave,” Bellad, who represents Hubballi-Dharwad West in the assembly, said in a post on X.

“College students are often recruited with promises of permanent jobs, only to be hired as apprentices instead. To make matters worse, many firms promise permanent roles after the training period, only to replace apprentices with new batches, leaving the previous group jobless overnight. Meanwhile, these companies continue to enjoy benefits under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. This blatant exploitation is destroying the future of our youth. The Labour Department must intervene immediately!” the BJP leader added.


Speaking in the state assembly on Tuesday, Bellad alleged that two tech companies had done this at their Chennai and Mysuru campuses. He, however, did not name the companies.

IT companies make campus offers to fresh BE graduates but keep them waiting for 2-3 years and fire them after keeping them employed for a few months, alleged Bellad. The students, who would have taken loans for their engineering course, have been facing a lot of hardship because of this, he added.