Iran-Israel conflict: India Inc closely watches developments to ensure safety of employees in West Asia
Reuters
Synopsis
Sun Pharma, which operates in Israel through its subsidiary Taro Pharmaceutical, is actively monitoring the situation in the country and is taking all necessary steps to ensure safety and wellbeing of employees and their families, a company spokesperson said in an email response to ET.
India Inc. is closely watching geopolitical developments in West Asia to ensure safety of their employees especially in Israel, known as an innovation hub. Tensions in the region started with the Gaza war last October, escalating this month following Iran’s attack on Israel.
Besides, about 18,000 Indians are currently employed in Israel as caregivers and farm workers, with an additional 1,500 recently sent as construction workers.
The escalating conflict has raised concerns for their safety, said industry officials.
Kartik Narayan, CEO Staffing, TeamLease Services, said, "India's rich demographic dividend means young Indians are increasingly working across the globe in a variety of roles, from blue-collar construction workers to knowledge workers in the IT space…The escalating Iran-Israel conflict raises serious concerns for their safety.”
“It's imperative that clear crisis management protocols are established through collaboration between enterprises and the government to protect our citizens in such volatile regions. This situation not only highlights the need for robust strategies but also acknowledges the complex geopolitical challenges Indian workers face internationally," he added.
A spokesperson for IT industry body Nasscom said Indian technology companies have a very limited presence in Israel, largely focused on innovation partnerships and R&D that are mostly run through local Israeli employees.
“To enable the safety of these employees, companies are following all necessary protocols as directed by the Israeli government,” the spokesperson said.
Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, and Wipro, which have operations in Israel, didn’t respond to ET’s queries.
Israel is a strategic hub for security, R&D and automotive innovation. Several global multinationals have offices in the country employing an estimated 100,000-125,000 people.
“The ongoing conflict may also lead MNC companies including global captives shifting some of their workload to other destinations including India,” said a partner in a consulting firm asking not to be named.
“That apart, Israel is a hub for cyber security solutions for many tech services companies across the world including India. However, even if there is a shift in some work for business continuity, it will be very small in numbers and temporary in nature,” the person said.
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Sun Pharma, which operates in Israel through its subsidiary Taro Pharmaceutical, is actively monitoring the situation in the country and is taking all necessary steps to ensure safety and wellbeing of employees and their families, a company spokesperson said in an email response to ET.Empower Your Corporate Journey with Strategic Skill Courses
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The escalating conflict has raised concerns for their safety, said industry officials.
Kartik Narayan, CEO Staffing, TeamLease Services, said, "India's rich demographic dividend means young Indians are increasingly working across the globe in a variety of roles, from blue-collar construction workers to knowledge workers in the IT space…The escalating Iran-Israel conflict raises serious concerns for their safety.”
“It's imperative that clear crisis management protocols are established through collaboration between enterprises and the government to protect our citizens in such volatile regions. This situation not only highlights the need for robust strategies but also acknowledges the complex geopolitical challenges Indian workers face internationally," he added.
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A spokesperson for IT industry body Nasscom said Indian technology companies have a very limited presence in Israel, largely focused on innovation partnerships and R&D that are mostly run through local Israeli employees.
“To enable the safety of these employees, companies are following all necessary protocols as directed by the Israeli government,” the spokesperson said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, and Wipro, which have operations in Israel, didn’t respond to ET’s queries.
Israel is a strategic hub for security, R&D and automotive innovation. Several global multinationals have offices in the country employing an estimated 100,000-125,000 people.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The ongoing conflict may also lead MNC companies including global captives shifting some of their workload to other destinations including India,” said a partner in a consulting firm asking not to be named.
“That apart, Israel is a hub for cyber security solutions for many tech services companies across the world including India. However, even if there is a shift in some work for business continuity, it will be very small in numbers and temporary in nature,” the person said.
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
