Four recruitment firms join hands to help India Inc return to work
by Namrata Singh(Representative image)
MUMBAI: Four global HR services companies -- Randstad, The Adecco Group, ManpowerGroup and Gi Group -- have formed an alliance to “help India get back to work safely”. In this non-commercial alliance, the four organizations combine their knowledge and strengths to jointly tackle the key challenges facing the labour market following the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a statement, the objective of this collaboration is to minimize the negative impact of COVID-19 on the economy. For companies, it is now a question of getting their employees back to work quickly and, above all, safely. The alliance’s actions will be focused on sharing best practices on health and safety protocols, to be established or updated for the ‘physical distancing economy’.
Initially, the alliance will focus on companies in seven key sectors in India - IT/ITeS, manufacturing, infrastructure, pharma/healthcare/lifesciences, consulting & business services, retail and e-commerce, to collate best practice protocols from companies which will be used to create a comprehensive compilation of instructions and concrete measures for a safe return to workplaces throughout India.
According to the statement, the alliance will issue a call to action to all relevant stakeholders, including employers, trade unions, industry associations, regulatory bodies and NGOs, to contribute and play their part.
Paul Dupuis, MD & CEO, Randstad India said, “This tremendous task will require close co-operation and co-ordination of various stakeholders – from employers, trade unions, industry associations, to the government. One thing is certain; we are entering a new world of work and it is crucial to be well prepared for this new reality. The emphasis must be on creating a safe environment where employees can be productive and make an impact. We, therefore, appeal to all stakeholders to join us in helping to prepare India for the road ahead”.
Marco Valsecchi, country manager & MD, Adecco Group, India said,”COVID-19 has created a great disruption in the labour market and to entire communities and thus, it is imperative to return to work with the necessary precautions. Our alliance with Randstad, ManpowerGroup and Gi Group is an effort to prepare and contribute to a new normal and to expedite a safe and responsible reopening of economies and workplaces. The safety protocols we put together will highlight the elimination and substitution of various workplace policies in order to adapt to the new reality of a physically distant work environment, ensuring that employee safety and risk mitigation are of the utmost priority.”
Sandeep Gulati, MD, ManpowerGroup India said, “Though the restart will be divergent by industry there are best practices companies can follow for a return that puts the health of people first. That’s why we are proud to launch this alliance to share best practices and practical recommendations from across industries and geographies. This is our opportunity to restart the economy to create a future of work that works for everyone, one we know people have been seeking for some time. More digital, more virtual, more connected and more wellbeing-orientated than we could ever have imagined.”
Marcos Segador Arrebola, country manager, Gi Group India said, “Only caring about these needs with passion and dedication would be possible to solve the challenges ahead. We should treat this COVID-19 crisis as a defining moment for ourselves, our organizations and our country. A moment to make a difference."