Al Futtaim Logistics began as an in-house operation to cater for the logistics needs of all the companies in the group. Today it deals with other companies, especially in the freight business. In contract logistics, the bulk of the business is still from Al Futtaim Group companies.

The human resources (HR) division of Al Futtaim is interested in having a mix of nationalities and recruits personnel from almost every country in the world through authorised recruiting agencies. All employees of the company are on its sponsorship. Dulsco is one of the authorised contracting companies that provides personnel for the Al Futtaim Group. Al Futtaim Logistics, being part of the Group, uses Dulsco for its own outsourcing needs, especially in their warehouses and for transporting goods.

“In the business environment of the Gulf countries we can meet our regular manpower needs quite easily by bringing in people from elsewhere on our visas. But getting fifteen or twenty people within 24 hours for a particular job is impossible. When there is sudden increase in volume of business there is always such an urgent need for increased manpower. That is when we look to manpower outsourcing and Dulsco has met our needs quite amply. We usually hire helpers and heavy vehicle drivers from Dulsco as part of our support service personnel,” says Lohithakshan, HR Manager of Al Futtaim Logistics.

According to Lohithakshan, the parts warehouse of Al Futtaim Logistics has continuously used Dulsco personnel. The company had insisted on getting the same people and Dulsco obliged. Some Dulsco personnel have worked with Al Futtaim Logistics for more than two years now and understand the company’s systems very well. They have now almost become a part of the Al Futtaim team and are included in all office activities.

The company is confident of approaching Dulsco with their personnel requirements whenever the need arises. “Of course no concrete numbers can be given as it depends on the work that comes up, but I can assure you that we will definitely need more workers in the future as more new business is being generated at a good pace in our company. Other than a few glitches now and then, we have never been unhappy with any of the work that Dulsco personnel have done and hope that they have also found being with us rewarding. We hope to continue our relationship with Dulsco for the foreseeable future,” said Lohithakshan.