Multinational Companies Take Steps to Protect Egypt Employees

Multinational companies with operations in Egypt took steps to guard the safety of their employees amid the unrest.

On Wednesay, Procter & Gamble Co. told its employees in Cairo to work from home until further notice.


French telecommunications company Alcatel-Lucent S.A. advised its 600 employees in Egypt to stay at home, beginning Thursday, says a company spokeswoman.

The company’s Egyptian employees are involved in deploying technology to customers in the country as well as sales and marketing. Alcatel is “discouraging any [company] travel to Egypt” in light of the protests, says the spokeswoman.

Otis Elevator Company has 200 employees in offices in Cairo and Alexandria for its new equipment installation and service operations. “Safety is one of our core values and the local team addressed our employees last week to remind them of the importance of ensuring their safety,” Didier Michaud-Daniel, president of Otis Elevator Company. “Although communications today have become more difficult, the local team is empowered to take any necessary action to ensure the safety of our employees,” he said.

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. has approximately 25 employees working in sales in an office outside of Cairo, says a spokesman. “All employees are safe and there has been no impact to our offices,” says the spokesman. The company has revised its travel policy to Egypt to “business critical,” and is continuing to monitor the situation in Egypt, he says.

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com