Call center industry workers’ protection, just labor lobbied

CEBU, Philippines - A group of concerned call center workers yesterday pushed for a clearer policy on small call centers operating in the country, stressing that the government must prioritize employees’ welfare aside from job generation.

During a press conference, Inter-Call Center Association of Workers  bared the business tactics of “fly-by-night” companies in escaping liabilities to employees.

The group cited sudden closure of operations without notice, creating a new company with the same operations and accounts after closure of the old business, exclusion of non-regular workers in hospitalization benefits despite the health hazards pose by the nature of the job, forced and at times unpaid overtime, below usual allowances, delayed salary, unreasonable termination of workers, among others.

In the same conference, ICCAW presented its demands for the adoption of standards in the business process outsourcingindustry flourishing in Cebu.

ICCAW said a pre-qualifying bond should be required for those that wish to set up a new BPO company enough to cover an employee’s one-month salary should the company suddenly close.

A minimum salary standard should also set at P12,000, which the group said is even lower than the existing entry salary of top call center companies operating in Cebu and other parts of the country. ICCAW also wanted the creation and activation of a Department of Labor and Employment  quick action team whose main task is to respond and to deal with cases of sudden closure of BPO firms.

Mandatory regularization of employees after a six-month probationary period is also being pushed, as the group observed that this very basic labor rule is usually not being followed.

“We just want to curb the unjust practices (in the industry). Ang nakita ra man sa government ang progress side, wala nila nakita ang welfare sa workers (Because the government only sees progress and not also the welfare of workers),” said ICCAW’s Marleo Enobio . (FREEMAN)