In India’s FMCG sector, annual-report disclosures for FY26 show a mixed staffing picture even as median employee pay increases across major companies. Hindustan Unilever (HUL) trims its permanent workforce: its permanent employee count falls to 5,898 as of March 31, 2026, from 6,604 a year earlier, a decline of more than 700 employees. NDTV and Business Standard also report the same HUL headcount figures.
Dabur similarly cuts permanent staffing. NDTV reports Dabur’s permanent workforce decreases to 4,770 as of March 31, 2026, from 5,343 in the previous year. Business Standard describes Dabur alongside HUL as trimming permanent employees during the fiscal.
Across the sector, Business Standard notes that median remuneration rises in FY26 for most players, with increases ranging from 6.08% to 12.1%, and Tata Consumer Products showing the highest median pay growth among the five major companies mentioned. HUL’s median remuneration increase is described as 6.08% for FY26. While some FMCG firms such as Nestle India, Marico and Tata Consumer Products add to headcount, HUL and Dabur move in the opposite direction for permanent employee numbers.
