Finding it difficult to mobilise labour, attrition rising 4x, says L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan

Finding it difficult to mobilise labour amid availability of welfare schemes: L&T chairman SN Subrahmanyan

Larsen & Toubro’s Chairman and Managing Director SN Subrahmanyan said on February 11 that the engineering major is finding it difficult to mobilise labour partly due to the benefits provided by various welfare schemes.

Speaking at the CII Mystic South Global Linkages Summit in Chennai, Subrahmanyan said that despite the crucial role that construction plays in national development, the industry is struggling amid lack of available workforce.

He highlighted that while migration continues to be a concern in many parts of the world, India faces a problem where many labourers are unwilling to move for work.

Subrahmanyan explained that L&T requires around 4 lakh workers, but due to high attrition the company ends up employing 16 lakh people annually.

Subrahmanyan suggested that several government initiatives such as direct benefit transfers under the Garib Kalyan Yojana, and employment through MGNREGA, may have reduced the incentive for workers to seek jobs far from their hometowns.

"For employing 4 lakh labourers, we employed 1.6 million labourers. We have a database of 4 million people with us, their names, their Jan Dhan bank account, their Aadhaar number, the village they come from, their skillsets. There is a site in the western part of the country, where I am supposed to mobilise 50,000 labourers. I need people, but they are not willing to come.”

He mentioned that human migration, technology transition, and sustainability were key factors shaping the future of businesses and industries.

"The world is evolving rapidly, and businesses must adapt to survive. Technology, energy transition, and sustainability are not just trends—they are necessities. At L&T, we embrace innovation to build a better future while staying rooted in strong values. Growth comes from resilience, adaptability, and a vision beyond the present," he said.

Subrahmanyan also noted a similar trend among engineering graduates, especially in sectors like information technology, where they are showing reluctance to relocate for work.

Last month, Subrahmanyan sparked an online outrage with his comments advocating a 90-hour work week and suggesting that employees should even give up Sundays.

“How long can you stare at your wife,” he is heard saying in a purported video address to employees where he urged them to spend less time at home and more in the office.