BPO workers slam 23 Cebu-based firms for alleged violations of rights, standards

The BPO Industry Employees’ Network (Bien)-Cebu called for sanctions against 23 business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in Cebu City that allegedly forced their employees to return to work immediately after the recent magnitude 6.9 earthquake.

In an exclusive interview with Explained PH on October 6, Bien-Cebu spokesperson Kyle Enero said they met with the Department of Labor and Employment-Regional Office 7 (DOLE-7) to directly report the situation.

“Nahibaw-an namo nga ongoing ang investigation nila sa mga BPO companies nga potentially naka-violate og labor rights and occupational safety and health standards,” Enero said.

The group previously filed a complaint before the DOLE-7 on October 2.

This came after they had received multiple reports of violations, including offering double pay, ordering employees to resume work immediately after the quake, and threatening termination and suspension.

A pregnant employee was also reportedly left unaided as she made her way down multiple flights of stairs during the evacuation.

“BIEN Cebu strongly condemns these unacceptable labor practices and calls for the immediate protection of BPO employees and their families, whether they are working onsite or remotely,” it said in a statement.

Enero shared the recent progress in the probe that one BPO company has already received a cease and desist order, while another has been issued a notice of conference. Several other companies will also be inspected on October 6.

“These are positive steps that we recognize and are a product of BPO employees’ clamor, both in social media and on the ground,” he said.

Further, Enero said that DOLE-7 regional director Atty. Roy Buenafe affirmed the existence of danger from the aftershocks and their possibility to continue for the next two weeks.

“Iyahang opinion pa kay naay presumptive imminent danger. This sets the tone nga ang mga companies are mandated by labor advisories to follow or guarantee the right of employees to refuse unsafe work,” Enero said. “They (BPO employees) cannot be compelled to report onsite, and therefore ang kinahanglan kay mga alternative modes of operations or work-from-home setups that will ensure workers’ safety during these times.”

Meanwhile, Enero said that the group has also had a dialogue with Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña on October 3 about the experiences of BPO workers after the destructive earthquake that shook the province.

Osmeña has reportedly received complaints through his hotline and has assured that his office is already working on addressing these reports.

He previously cited the issue about the approach of BPO companies amid a disaster as “unacceptable” if proven to be true and promised to help the BPO workers resolve their grievances.

“I need to be sure that this [is] true, but if this is true, we will do more than just file a complaint at DOLE. I will personally contact every known local and overseas client that company has to tell them what kind of company they hired,” Osmeña posted in his Facebook page.