Are jobs available for a fee on campuses?

Rupali Sharma (name changed) — a third-year MCA student of a reputed engineering college in Kanpur — was taken aback to know that representatives of some IT firms on campus for summer placements were asking students to pay a sum of Rs 50,000 to secure a job with their company. This, according to the companies, would take care of their training cost.

Interested students were asked to register by paying Rs 5,000 as non-refundable registration fee. During the internship, the student would not receive any stipend. He would be given a job only if he met the company’s stipulated performance parameters. The placement officer of the college (who requested anonymity) said: “We did get such proposals from two IT firms. This has never happened earlier. We will not allow these particular firms to offer this to our students.”

Analysts and HR consultants feel the demand for money is the handiwork of middle-men and neither acceptable nor legal. They add the current economic meltdown opens up opportunities for exploitation.

Pandia Rajan, MD, Ma Foi group and Ranstad, said: “The dearth of finishing schools is the root cause. There are firms who ask students to pay a training fee, which is not illegal or amoral. In recent times, there have been instances where students have been taken for a ride,” added Rajan.

Monisha Advani, managing director, EmmayHR Services, said: “Some companies, particularly in the IT and ITeS sectors, attempt to arrest attrition by executing cleverly-worded agreements with new employees to ensure recovery of notional amounts, should the individual leave the job prematurely. These are usually disguised as recovery of costs towards training, special orientation programs, exposure to overseas travel etc.”