Punj Lloyd shifting workforce to India

Engineering firm Punj Lloyd is shifting its workforce from its UK-based subsidiary to India, particularly to its Delhi and Hyderabad centres, as an effort to cut costs amid global economic slowdown.

Pinning hopes on infrastructure developments in the region (Asia), the company is planning to hire over 2,000 persons (about 15 per cent of existing workforce) during the fiscal with special focus on its centres in Asian countries, including India, Singapore and Abu Dhabi.

“Besides fresh recruitments, we are also rationalising our employee base at our UK-based subsidiary Simon Carves to other centres, particularly to Delhi and Hyderabad because of slowing down of gas and oil business in the West,” Punj Lloyd Group Chairman Atul Punj said.

Simon Carves specialises in design and construction of turnkey projects in the oil and gas, chemicals, refineries, nuclear and biofuels sectors. When asked about recruitment plans during the current fiscal under the tight economic situation across the world, he replied, “Recession has had an impact on the real estate sector, which is only five per cent our total business. I would be surprised if our hirings are less than 15 per cent of our employee strength during this fiscal.”