The Hindu Business Line : GHCL to shift Dan River's administrative jobs

For Dan River, the company is targeting a turnover of $300 million, which it hopes to attain through sourcing of home textiles spread across India, Pakistan and China.

New Delhi , Jan. 26

ON the heels of its acquisition of US home textile firm Dan River Inc, textiles and soda ash firm GHCL plans to shift "a lot of its administrative work" from the US to India by February 1.

Mr Sanjay Dalmia, Chairman of GHCL, said, "We are still in the process of working out how the shift will take place. Dan River's two plants were to be shut down even before the acquisition took place, this will be complete we hope by June. One of the plants is scheduled to close in March.

"Meanwhile, a lot of the BPO work will shift here and integration of the Dan Rivers staff with GHCL will subsequently take place."

Job cuts: In the backdrop of reported protests in Dan River's headquarters at Danville, Virginia, Mr Dalmia said that no body likes to lose jobs, but the plants were to be shut down anyway and for reduction in administrative staff several of the notices had already been given. "There is no question of resistance. The US law is very clear on it and we are proceeding as per the law. Job reduction will be done in stages and we are trying to retain as many possible. This is a business decision, whatever is required, we will do,'' he said.

Acquisitions in soda ash biz: In the case of its soda ash business, GHCL is looking at three more acquisitions in the future. While its acquisition of a Romanian soda ash company has given it a foothold in Europe, it is planning a presence in the US and China as well. While not divulging a timeframe for its forays, he said, "We want to do it as early as we can."