Global hiring suspended for at least three months
Unilever is suspending global recruitment at all levels for at least three months amid the "significant challenges" brought about by the conflict in the Middle East, according to reports.
Fabian Garcia, head of Unilever's personal care business, announced the move in a memo to employees last week, Reuters reported.
"Macro economic and geopolitical realities, especially in the Middle East conflict… bring some significant challenges for the coming months," Garcia said in the memo quoted by Reuters.
"With this in mind, the Unilever Leadership Executive team has agreed a global recruitment freeze at all levels. This will be effective immediately and last for a minimum of three months."
Unilever is a global consumer goods giant known for producing well-known household products, such as hygiene products, instant coffee, instant noodles, baby food, cleaning agents, and other products.
Its move to suspend global hiring reflects the growing workplace impact of the Middle East crisis, which triggered a major disruption in the supplies of oil and gas globally.
Unilever said in a statement to news outlets that the temporary recruitment pause comes follows reflection on the uncertain external environment.
"We remain an agile business and will always adjust our plans as necessary," it said in the statement.
Consumer goods is among the sectors most affected by the crisis, as soaring fuel prices slow production and push up the cost of a wide range of goods.
Unilever currently operates in 190 countries and employs 96,000 individuals. Its hiring pause comes after it reduced its workforce by 7,500 office-based roles as part of a cost-cutting measure in 2024.
