Labor groups representing business process outsourcing (BPO) employees called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to investigate after recent earthquakes revealed unsafe working conditions in Bacolod and Cebu.
The Congress of Independent Organizations (KABOR) filed a complaint with DOLE on Thursday, October 2, on behalf of Teleperformance employees in Bacolod, while the BPO Industry Employees’ Network (BIEN)-Cebu represented workers from several Cebu City BPOs, citing threats to both their physical safety and mental well-being.
In Bacolod, Roland C. De La Cruz, national president of KABOR, said in a statement that Teleperformance management allegedly forced staff to return to work shortly after the September 30 earthquake without conducting safety inspections or securing clearance from authorities.
He reported that some employees allegedly suffered severe anxiety attacks, and a few fainted due to unsafe conditions and missing emergency protocols.
“Despite the gravity of the situation and the potential for aftershocks, Teleperformance – Bacolod City management reportedly compelled its employees to return to work shortly after the incident, without conducting a comprehensive safety inspection or securing clearance from the appropriate authorities,” De La Cruz said.
Teleperformance has not issued an official statement as of press time.
Meanwhile, in Cebu City, BIEN-Cebu said several BPO companies purportedly required employees to continue taking calls during the tremor, blocked emergency exits, and forced staff back to work within 30 minutes without proper safety checks.
“BIEN-Cebu stands with Cebu BPO workers as they express their rage and discontent over reckless company policies that pushed them to highly stressful, if not dangerous, working conditions amidst the ongoing disaster,” the group said.
The network also reported that companies offered double pay to employees who stayed while threatening staff who prioritized safety with suspension, pay cuts, or termination.
Business as usual?
BIEN-Cebu added that some employees signed memos restricting discussion of the incident on social media, and a pregnant worker had to evacuate multiple flights of stairs without assistance.
“Corporate greed combined with government inaction show the complete disregard over BPO workers welfare and safety. The only recourse of BPO workers is to engage in ‘BPO Hopping’ jumping from one company to another in search of “better compensated” and “less toxic work cultures”, only to find out that these issues are industry-wide,” portion of the statement read.
Both groups argued that these actions violate the Occupational Safety and Health Standards under Republic Act No. 11058, which requires employers to provide a safe and healthful workplace.
Cebu City, a major BPO hub employing roughly 200,000 full-time workers, hosts companies in Cebu IT Park and Cebu Business Park. While, Bacolod’s BPO sector continues to grow, providing jobs to thousands of local residents.
Labor groups urged DOLE to investigate both complaints immediately and ensure affected workers receive medical and psychological support.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.