One of the most concerning by-products of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is the growing economic instability caused by mass-scale unemployment. To nurse the economy back to health, we need to revive jobs and build back financial stability from the ground up.
According to staffing agencies about 100 to 120 million blue-collar workers have either experienced job loss or salary cuts across sectors. But in the midst of this pandemic, where most sectors are having to clamp down employment there are a few where demand is poised to grow. The security Industry & Facility Management sector is large-scale and people-driven. It is the one sector still consistently hiring during the pandemic and will further do so in the foreseeable future. The sector has grown with a surge in demand for these essential services.
The lockdown and subsequent versions of the same have led to growing security concerns across public and private spaces as well as the need for urgent uptake and implementation of the new norms of facility sanitisation and hygiene. New and growing demands are allowing leading companies like Tenon to scale up and significantly build employment as well. There is specifically a high demand for cleaning personnel and security guards across most regions and metros across India. Corporates, factories, hospitals and vacant properties are where maximum demand is coming from. The mandated COVID related checks have also lent to a growing requirement of additional manpower in most spaces.
Speaking on the future prospects of growth of manpower of the company and in the sector, Major Manjit Rajain, Executive Chairman of Tenon Group said, “While the livelihoods of many are at stake during these uncertain times, our industry can really make a difference to be able to offer new employment opportunities as we scale up and prepare for certain growth in security and facility management requirements of public and private spaces over the coming months. At Tenon Group, we have retained and even brought back older members of our task force who are now looking for jobs to join our growing team. I hope our sector can help make that difference to balance the scales and support the revival of the economy.”
This seems to be a much needed positive sign when we think of building back the economy by taking on a significant number of new employments. Even in the lockdown situation, Tenon group dipped into the pool of retired security guards to re-hire them, giving them transportation to their work locations. Tenon Group currently have around 60,000 ground staff. However during COVID-19, manpower reduced by 10-15% but Tenon Group will be getting 50% of them deployed on the ground again in the next 3-4 months.
The company is additionally working through a portal to easily identify, locate and deploy people pan India bringing job seekers closer to them across geographies. The private security industry is amongst the largest employers in India, employing over 9 million people with the potential to employ over 3 million more by 2021 . The industry also happens to be the largest corporate tax contributor to the National Exchequer.
