Wipro Reports 22,490 Decline In Female Employees Count For FY24

Wipro has seen consecutive quarterly declines over the past five quarters, contrasting sharply with previous years of consistent growth

Wipro, India's prominent IT company, reported a significant decrease in its female workforce during the fiscal year 2023-24, dropping from 90,721 to 68,231 employees, marking a reduction of 22,490 employees, as stated in its annual report. This decline mirrors Wipro's overall workforce reduction, which saw a year-on-year decrease of 24,516 employees, bringing the total headcount to 234,054 as of March 31st.

This decline is not just limited to Wipro but is a part of broader industry trends. Wipro has seen consecutive quarterly declines over the past five quarters, contrasting sharply with previous years of consistent growth. The firm is not alone in experiencing a sharp dip in workforce diversity. Other tech giants such as Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) also reported reductions in both their female employee numbers and overall headcount, indicating a significant shift in the industry's dynamics.

Infosys reported a reduction in its female workforce by 10,786 employees to 124,569, while TCS experienced a decrease of approximately 6,000 female employees to 214,000 during the same period. Overall, Infosys' total workforce declined by 25,994 employees to 317,240, and TCS’ workforce decreased by 13,249 employees to 601,546 compared to the previous financial year. Together, Wipro, Infosys, and TCS experienced a significant workforce reduction of 63,759 employees in FY24, departing from the aggressive hiring trends observed post-pandemic.

Furthermore, the workplace culture at these companies is a growing concern. Reports of sexual harassment complaints at Wipro more than doubled in FY24, rising to 182 cases from 70 in FY23. Wipro provided specific data on complaints under POSH, with a total of 93 complaints reported in fiscal 2024 compared to 141 in the previous year, as per the annual report. 

At Infosys and TCS as well similar patterns were noted where reported instances of sexual harassment showed significant increases. Infosys reported 98 cases in FY24, up from 78 in FY23, while TCS saw complaints rise to 110 from 49 during the same period.

At TCS’s 29th annual general meeting, TCS chairman N Chandrasekaran indicated that the increase could be partly attributed to heightened awareness and a culture of openness nurtured within the company's vast workforce, which exceeds 600,000 employees. “We are operating in a global environment and constantly enforcing and encouraging a culture of openness. We always want people to express themselves. If there is harassment, people should raise it; when they do so, the number goes up,” he said.