A Reddit post titled “Chattel Slavery” on the IndianWorkplace subreddit has triggered fresh debate around bonding practices, low pay, and toxic work culture for college freshers in India.
The post, shared by a user whose friend works at the company in question, calls out what they describe as “exploitative hiring conditions” that trap young graduates into long service bonds with heavy financial penalties for early exit.
“This is one of the companies in which my friend works and this is the new hiring policy they have decided for freshers,” the Reddit user wrote. “I am just surprised how can bond be more than salary and how is even bond surviving in the first place.”
The user also claimed that the workplace is “damn toxic” and that many employees continue only because of the bond. “This company even came to my college. Thankfully, I didn’t sit in its placement,” the post added.
WHAT THE COMPANY’S FRESHER POLICY SAYS
According to the screenshot shared in the post, the company has laid down a multi-year service agreement for campus hires.
Freshers selected from colleges are first placed on a six-month training period, during which they receive a monthly stipend ranging from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000, depending on their rank in the selection process.
After completing training, the candidate is absorbed into the company with an annual package between Rs 3.4 lakh and Rs 4.4 lakh, again linked to performance ranking during training.
However, the controversial part of the policy lies in the bond.
The service agreement requires six months of training plus 3.6 years of mandatory service, effectively binding freshers to the company for over four years.
EXITING EARLY COMES AT A COST
The indemnification clause mentioned in the policy lists steep penalties if an employee leaves before completing the bond period.
If a candidate quits during the first or second year, they must pay Rs 5 lakh.
Leaving in the third year attracts a penalty of Rs 4 lakh, while exiting in the fourth year requires Rs 3 lakh.
For many fresh graduates, these amounts are significantly higher than their annual in-hand salary, making it financially impossible to leave even if working conditions deteriorate.
WHY THE POST STRUCK A NERVE
Bonded employment is not new in India, especially in IT services, manufacturing, and campus hiring-heavy firms. But long bond durations paired with low entry-level pay and high penalties continue to draw criticism.
Reddit users responding to the post questioned how such agreements remain enforceable and whether they amount to coercive employment. Several commenters compared the system to “modern-day bonded labour,” while others warned students to read offer letters carefully before accepting campus placements.
The post has also reignited discussion around power imbalance in the fresher job market, where students often feel pressured to accept any offer due to placement season rules, family expectations, or lack of alternatives.
WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR
Employment experts often advise students to closely examine bond duration, penalty clauses, and exit conditions before signing offer letters. While companies argue bonds help recover training costs, excessively long bonds with disproportionate penalties raise ethical and legal questions.
For now, the Reddit post serves as yet another reminder of why transparency in campus hiring and awareness among students remain crucial.