Wipro wants some freshers to clear this new programme or face termination

• Bengaluru-based IT services company Wipro now requires some freshers to clear Project Readiness Programme (PRP) or face termination.
• Wipro has reportedly asked those freshers to undergo the PRP who had agreed to accept a lower package of ₹3.5 lakh per annum compared to ₹6.5 lakh it offered earlier.
• This has attracted the ire of Pune-based union Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), whose president has called it ‘unethical, unfair and unjust’.
• Business Insider India has obtained a copy of Wipro PRP that outlines the exact process freshers will have to undergo.

Bengaluru-based IT services company Wipro now requires some freshers to clear Project Readiness Programme (PRP) or face termination, according to a document seen by Business Insider India. Wipro will apply PRP to candidates who had opted for a lower package of ₹3.5 lakh per annum, from the initially promised ₹6.5 lakh per annum.

For context, Wipro in February slashed the annual compensation for freshers who had already undergone the company’s ‘Velocity’ training programme to ₹3.5 lakh from ₹6.5 lakh per annum. At the time, Wipro blamed the “changing macro environment” and “business needs”.

Business Insider India has obtained a copy of the document detailing Wipro’s Project Readiness Programme, which details the contours of the programme.

“Project Readiness Programme is a programme offered by Talent Transformation to all campus and off-campus hires referred as NGAs (next-generation associates). The broad objective of PRP is to equip NGA with the necessary knowledge and skills that will enable them to start working on customer projects,” the PRP document says.

This has attracted the ire of Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), a Pune-based union. “Wipro's actions towards its fresher employees are unethical, unfair and unjust. The company's misleading communication and sudden changes in policy have put the future of these employees at risk,” said Harpreet Saluja, NITES president.

Wipro PRP also mandates that every associate in this programme will have to obtain a score of at least 60%. Failure to do so will “lead to separation action with immediate effect”, which means that the fresher will not be given a job by the company.

Up to 8 weeks of training

Wipro PRP involves up to 8 weeks of training, depending on the skillset matching criteria. The company is calling it ‘Technology Readiness Training’ (TRT).

In addition to this, all candidates are also required to work on a capstone or business-oriented project for 1-2 weeks. Once completed, candidates will have to present their projects and also answer questions orally.

The training programme duration ranges from anywhere between 4 to 8 weeks, with the training done either via e-learning or an instructor. Associates are required to complete their allotted projects during this course, only after which they will be allowed to proceed for the final assessment.

Assessment test with negative marking

The final assessment consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and logic building programme for programming languages, with both the categories carrying equal weightage. Candidates will get an hour for each category, and MCQs will attract negative marking of 0.25 per question for wrong answers.

Only those candidates with a minimum score of 60% marks will be eligible for selection, and those who fail to score 60% will be terminated. All candidates will be given three attempts to clear the programme.

Wipro is scheduled to announce its Q4 earnings on April 27.

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