{"id":641331,"date":"2026-03-08T16:49:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T16:49:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/641331\/"},"modified":"2026-03-08T16:49:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T16:49:21","slug":"dabur-and-other-indian-companies-in-west-asia-build-support-units-for-staff-battling-uncertainty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/641331\/","title":{"rendered":"Dabur and other Indian companies in West Asia build support units for staff battling uncertainty"},"content":{"rendered":"

Companies operating in West Asia<\/a> are implementing support measures for their staff, including Indian expatriates, prioritising the safety and well-being of the employees amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran which has sparked security concerns in other parts of the region as well.<\/p>\n

Such measures include offering extended leaves to employees where remote working is not possible.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ: <\/strong>UAE bolsters food security, stocks shelves<\/a>
\u2018RELOCATION REQUESTS\u2019
Companies are helping employees stranded in impacted areas reunite with their families and holding mental well-being drives within the organisations, said executives from Indian companies including Dabur<\/a> and TeamLease Services<\/a> and Gulf-based firms such as Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, TidyHire and House of Shipping.<\/p>\n

(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel<\/a> for all the latest updates)<\/p>\n

According to TeamLease Services\u2019 internal estimates, the total workforce in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries\u2014Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)\u2014is about 35 million, of which one-third are Indians.<\/p>\n

\"ETLive Events
ALSO READ: <\/strong>Oil built the Persian Gulf. Desalinated water keeps it alive. War could threaten both<\/a>
Indian companies with significant exposure to the UAE include Dabur, Marico<\/a>, Britannia<\/a>, Tata Consumer Products<\/a> and Reliance<\/a> Consumer Products. Dabur alone has about 500 employees across West Asia. \"Screenshot
Dabur has implemented flexible work arrangements, including work from home and a phased hybrid model for employees in the region. \u201cAll our teams across West Asia are safe, and our leadership remains in close contact with employees across the region. We continue to monitor the situation closely and are taking appropriate precautions in line with guidance from local authorities,\u201d said Biplob Bakshi, chief human resources officer, Dabur India<\/a> Limited.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe depend heavily on our West Asia markets and a significant number of our Indian employees work in the Gulf,\u201d a senior executive at a large consumer company said on condition of anonymity. \u201cMany have asked to be relocated back to India, or want to shift to India with their families at least for three-six months. We are evaluating how best to take care of their requests.\u201d<\/p>\n

Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, a Dubai-based multidivisional conglomerate, has implemented measures like remote working for its employees, said its group chief human capital officer, Vamshi Patwari. The group has a total workforce of 5,000 across the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and India.<\/p>\n

Besides remote and hybrid working, the group has introduced extended annual leave for employees without access to the remote working option. \u201cThe new hire onboarding and orientation continuity is in place, as part of which new employees joining the group during the transition period are fully onboarded through structured virtual orientation programmes,\u201d Patwari said.<\/p>\n

PERSONAL REASSURANCE
Dubai-based shipping consultancy and advisory firm House of Shipping has about 220 Indians among its workforce in the UAE. \u201cSince this incident is one that we have never encountered in the UAE, irrespective of the nationality, we have been able to support our employees in literally picking up the phone and talking to them, assuring them of all necessary support, etc.,\u201d said the company\u2019s global chief human resources officer, Prasanth Edassari.<\/p>\n

Like other companies, House of Shipping is also allowing employees to work from home, organising mental health and stress-related counselling sessions with experts, and holding individual counselling sessions. \u201cFor those employees who got stuck in India, we have allowed them to work from their home country until flights are available for their return,\u201d Edassari said.<\/p>\n

An executive heading an executive search firm in the UAE said that his company had switched to working from home, ever since war broke out last Saturday, and that it would take stock of the situation this weekend on whether to extend the remote working option.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is unprecedented. This is worse than Covid-19 as there is more potential for damage like human life risk, likelihood of huge upsurge on commodity pricing, supply chain impact. If this continues, then it could have a huge impact,\u201d said the executive, who did not wish to be identified.<\/p>\n

PAUSE ON TRAVEL
Along with enabling remote or hybrid work, companies operating in the region have paused all travel, according to Neeti Sharma, chief executive at TeamLease Digital. \u201cWhere work from home isn\u2019t possible, they\u2019re offering flexible leave and ensuring no one feels pressured during this time. HR teams are staying closely connected with all employees,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLife and business continue \u2014 with awareness and care, not fear, in the UAE,\u201d said Javeed Khan, co-founder and chief growth and people officer at artificial intelligence company TidyHire.<\/p>\n

The company has extended mental health and counselling support generously, from employee hotlines and wellness check-ins to dedicated sessions for younger children of employees, Khan said, adding, \u201cThe Indian community in the GCC is incredibly resilient,\u201d said Khan.<\/p>\n

Companies are also providing logistical support including guidance on travel routes and options to those who might want to visit their families in neighbouring countries, said experts.<\/p>\n

Early last year, Reliance Consumer Products, the fast-moving consumer goods arm of Reliance Industries<\/a>, introduced its Campa soft drink brand in the UAE in partnership with food and beverage company Agthia Group. At that time, Reliance had said it would \u201cinvest in the UAE region for the long term and it sees great potential for accelerated growth in the region\u201d.<\/p>\n

In 2024-25, consumer goods company Marico earned 25% of its revenue from international business, including West Asia. Its Dubai office operates as a core regional base for the Gulf region with a significant employee base.<\/p>\n

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