CHENNAI: Even as ever larger ratios of the Indian workforce are joining the global marketplace, conscious efforts to brand the Indian manpower can go a long way in creating an independent identity and enhancing the dignity of labour.

Stating this at a press conference here on Friday, K. Pandia Rajan, Managing Director of Ma Foi Management Consultants and past President of the Executive Recruiters Association (ERA), said there was no level treatment of Indian manpower at the moment vis-à-vis those from other countries. The ECR (emigration clearance required) stipulation, visa hurdles for temporary entry of Indian professionals into other countries and similar problems worked against the cause of Indian manpower, he pointed out. Around 4.5 lakh people went abroad on work every year. This number could be increased to one million a year.

Brand building exercise could go in tandem with some Government initiatives to beef up the image of the Indian manpower overseas, Mr. Pandia Rajan added. In this context, he regretted that the much talked about changes in the Emigration Act had not come about yet. The proposed Central Manpower Export Promotion Council, he felt, would address the issue of harassment of Indian workers by unrecognised recruiting agencies.

Mr. Pandia Rajan estimated the Indian recruitment industry to be around Rs. 2,000 crore. Out of this, flexi staffing or temporary staffing portion comprised Rs. 1,600 crore. ERA has around 100 members. With a combined turnover of Rs. 1,000 crore, they recruited about 1.25 lakh employees, he said. Of these, 60-70 per cent comprised flexi staff, he added.

Flexi staff are on the payrolls of recruitment firms, but work for different companies across multiple industries. "We see flexi staffing as a legitimate organised sector of employment, and it needs increased recognition from the government," he said.

Saundarya Rajesh, ERA Member and Chief Executive Officer of Avtar Career Creators, said it was the responsibility of talent procurers to see that the `talent pool' was expanded to help companies get rid of attrition worries.

ERA is scheduled to hold its national conference in Chennai on July 7. Ms. Rajesh said the conference would discuss finding interim opportunity for women and creating a new talent pool.

"There are certain jobs in various industries, including IT and banking, that have a high attrition rate and could be given to women or to retired person having expertise in a domain,'' she said.

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