Unilever says it will freeze new hiring after higher shipping costs tied to the Iran war squeeze margins. The cost pressure is also prompting workforce reductions and changes to bonus structures, signaling a broader push to protect profitability amid ongoing disruption in global trade routes.
India’s MSME manufacturing sector expanded in the Jan–March period, but growth cooled as the West Asia crisis disrupted trade. Longer shipping times and higher costs affected momentum even as new orders and production rose. Hiring stayed largely steady, and businesses expect the next quarter to remain positive but cautious, hinging on timely policy support for sustained growth.
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