NO JUBILIATION: Infosys, much like TCS will limit salary hikes to 12-15 per cent this year.

IT bellwether Infosys revealed on Wednesday that it plans to hire 26,000 fresh employees out of which starting-level professionals are likely to constitute a majority and a considerable number of recruitments would be done from overseas.

“We have hired from all over the world and have accelerated hiring in North America. A batch of youngsters are coming from the United States to train in Mysore. They would be completing their training and going back this quarter,” T V Mohandas Pai, Director-Human Resources Infosys was quoted by moneycontrol.com.

The IT major is also battling increased attrition rates, following the buzz that its management is mulling a cut in the annual salary hikes to cope the currency impact on its earnings. However Pai denies that effecting a wage hike cut is on the cards.

“Most people have many more career options than in the past. So, obviously, we have to build our employment band and offer them good compensation. There is no way you can hold on to wage increases, which are the normal thing like 12-15 per cent a year and expect quality people. Today, if you are in the top 20 per cent of your class, you have many career options. All we have to do is go to campuses and woo these people. So, reducing the wage increase is not an option at this point of time,” said Pai.

At present, the attrition rate in Infosys stands at 13.7 per cent—a level higher than the previous year. The employee utilization of the company, including trainees, is up 260 bps to 70.5 per cent.