Narayan AmmachchiMajor Indian IT companies have advised their employees in France to stay indoors and keep updated on the security guidelines of the European country where nearly 150 people died in a series of terror strikes last week.
Repeated terror strikes is a serious matter of concern for Indian technology firms, many of which have employed thousands of people in France.
Tata Consultancy Service (TCS) was the first to issue an advisory. TCS is aiming to increase its revenue in France to $1 billion, after it acquired local technology firm Alti in 2013. As many as 1,500 people are said to be working for TCS at different locations across France, where the IT services firm launched its operations in 1992.
“All our employees in the area are safe. We have asked our employees to follow the guidelines announced by the local authorities,” said a spokesperson of TCS, according to India’s news wire PTI.
It seems a majority of people working for Indian IT firms in France are on work visas and are not very familiar with the French language. Soon after hearing about the attacks, executives of the technology companies held meetings and decided to issue advisories as a first step towards safeguarding the security of their staff.
HCL Technologies not only issued an advisory but also condemned the attacks. There are more than 4,500 people working at HCL Tech in Europe. The Noida, India-based firm’s operation expanded in France in October when it acquired the IT service unit of Volvo. Reports say about 150 employees of Volvo’s IT unit are working in France.
“Keeping our employees safe and secure is our highest priority. We have issued an advisory to our Paris-based employees sensitizing them about the on-ground situation and suggesting them to stay indoors,” HCL stated.
Wipro has announced that all its employees in France are safe and it is in contact with them. Infosys, which employed 241 people in France, says it has offered help for its employees to stay secure.
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