Probe sought into “BPO sweatshops”

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City-based Inter-Call Center Association of Workers (ICCAW), a newly formed group of call center workers called on Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago to investigate what it called “BPO sweatshops” in the interest of protecting workers’ rights in the industry.

Santiago had refiled a bill seeking a Magna Carta for call center workers.

ICCAW spokesperson Sylvio Dorig said that as a step towards the refinement of the proposed measure, they ask Santiago to hold hearings, in aid of legislation, about the proliferation of sweatshop labor conditions in the BPO industry.

“Sweatshop condition not just stressful work is a problem of BPO employees,” Dorig said.

ICCAW is a DOLE-registered workers’ association for mutual aid and protection.

Partido ng Manggagawa national chair Renato Magtubo said that a sunshine industry and dollar earning sector like the BPO should have no room for sweatshops.

Magtubo added that the government must strictly regulate this fast growing industry in the interest of more than 600,000 workers.

ICCAW has likewise called on the DOLE to promote decent work in BPOs in the face of reports of violations of labor standards in the industry.  (FREEMAN)