THE country’s industry association for IT and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) said its dialogue with the IT-BPM firms organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) led to a ‘constructive’ outcome which will help protect the integrity of the industry.
‘The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines [IBPAP] welcomes the positive and constructive outcome of the dialogue with the IT-BPM companies organized by the Department of Labor and Employment [DOLE] in Cebu last Friday, October 10, 2025,’ IBPAP said in a statement Monday night.
The industry group said the meeting with DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Regional Director Roy Buenafe, and BPO companies in the region ‘affirmed one clear truth: our industry and government are united in safeguarding the welfare of Filipino workers and the integrity of the IT-BPM sector.’
IBPAP said DOLE clarified the circumstances regarding the earlier release of company names, which the industry group sees as ‘a step we consider essential in restoring confidence and protecting the reputations of responsible employers.’
This developed after IBPAP denounced the ‘irresponsible declaration’ made by DOLE in Region 7 which ‘prematurely’ identified several IT-BPM firms that have been ordered to halt operations for alleged labor rights violations.
In its earlier statement, the industry group said none of the accounts of its four member companies named by the BPO Industry Employee Network (BIEN) confirmed that employees were prevented from leaving the production area despite the earthquake, particularly regarding the blocking of exits, and forced to return to their workstations without safety clearance.
IBPAP underscored that this collaboration with the government ‘matters deeply’ because the Philippines is ‘home to nearly 1.9 million Digital Filipino Workers, whose dedication powers an industry that contributes close to USD 40 billion annually to the economy.’
‘Their safety, welfare, and livelihoods must never be put at risk by misinformation. Our workforce deserves nothing less than certainty, fairness, and respect,’ added the industry group.
IBPAP said its members ‘uphold the highest standards, guided by laws that require full compliance with Philippine laws and regulations.’
Beyond membership, the industry group said every IT-BPM company operating in the country has the responsibility to uphold the same standards of compliance, safety, and integrity.
‘Worker welfare and business continuity must never be compromised, and we stand ready to work with all stakeholders to ensure these principles are upheld,’ IBPAP said.
‘Together with the government and our members, we will continue to strengthen safety standards, safeguard jobs, and reinforce the Philippines’ position as a trusted global hub for IT-BPM for the benefit of every worker, every family, and the future of our nation,’ it also noted.