Indian IT cos recall staff from Bahrain

Indian IT giants like TCS, Infosys and Wipro have decided to call back their employees from Bahrain, following the political unrest in the country.

"The developments in Bahrain are unfortunate and we are closely monitoring the situation there. We have around 40 employees based out of Bahrain (60 expatriates including dependants)...

Around 17 expatriate employees (36 people including dependants) have already returned to India," Wipro Senior Vice President and Business Head (India, Middle East and Africa) Anand Sankaran told PTI.

The remaining employees continue to operate in Bahrain as of now and are safe, he added.

Spokesperson of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India's largest software services provider, today said the company has recalled 20 people, including all its employees and their dependents in Bahrain, back to India.

The IT bellwhether Infosys spokesperson also said the company, which has a very small presence in Bahrain, has also called back its employees to India.

Indian IT firms have also recently recalled its staff from Japan, which was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami. Following the devastation, there were reports of nuclear radiation, which led companies to evacuate its employees.

"The welfare and well being of Indians in these countries (Bahrain, Yemen) is uppermost in our agenda. We are closely monitoring developments in these countries," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna today said.

Bahrain has nearly 300,000 Indians, making them the single largest expatriate community in the tiny Gulf country. The Indian authorities have already asked Indians in Bahrain to keep a low profile, stay indoors and to avoid all non-essential travel within the country.

Many Indian companies in Bahrain have been trying to get their employees and families out from there over the past three days.

Bahrain is witnessing protests over the last several weeks, with demonstrators alleging discrimination and lack of rights, and seeking political reforms like restricting the country's monarchy to a constitutional role only.