'The new year will put the fire back in hire'

First, the good news. It looks like we are experiencing the last mile of the global recession, and with that, recruitment is looking up. But we must not forget that the general elections in 2014, which could involve some irrational political decisions, could set India back by a few years.

However, all things being equal, I am optimistic of a 30-40 per cent growth next year. The temporary-staff hiring industry is still in its infancy and things could grow much faster if regulatory barriers are removed. A Labour Law Reform too would go a long way towards improving things. Current labour laws view job preservation as a form of job creation, which is absolutely incorrect.

We are happy that the worst phase of the slowdown is behind us. We are aiming at 30-per cent organic growth this year while keeping an eye on acquisitions.

Manish Sabharwal, Ashok Reddy and Mohit Gupta founded TeamLease Staffing Solutions in 2002. The company helps companies recruit temporary or project-based staff.