At the CII South Global Linkages summit in Chennai, L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan pointed out that Indian workers are hesitant to move for jobs. While migration for work is common worldwide, he claimed that in India, hiring and retaining workers is becoming increasingly difficult.
According to him, L&T hires nearly 4 lakh laborers annually, but due to high attrition rates, they end up employing about 6 million workers in total. He emphasized that building roads, power plants, and other infrastructure projects is becoming harder because of labor shortages.
Changing Methods of Labor Mobilization
Subrahmanyan explained that the traditional ways of hiring have evolved. Now, L&T sends job invitations to carpenters and workers they have previously employed, allowing them to decide if they want to take up the job.
However, mobilizing 1.6 million workers every year remains a daunting task. To tackle this, L&T has established a dedicated HR department for labor management. The chairman himself actively participates in these efforts to ensure smooth operations.
Engineers Also Unwilling to Move
The reluctance to relocate is not limited to laborers. Subrahmanyan shared his own experience from 1983 when his boss asked him to move from Chennai to Delhi for work. He noted that young engineers today are unwilling to do the same.
He also commented on IT employees refusal to return to offices, stating that today’s workforce operates with a different mindset, making it necessary for companies to adapt flexible policies.
Controversial Comments on Work Culture
This is not the first time the L&T chairman has made headlines for his opinions on work culture. Last month, he faced backlash for a viral comment questioning employees working from home. His suggestion of a 90-hour workweek also received criticism from netizens.
With workforce expectations evolving, companies may need to rethink their strategies for attracting and retaining talent in India’s changing job market.
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