Despite the dangers posed by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake, some BPO companies in Cebu allegedly forced employees to return to work, even threatening them with dismissal if they refused.
The BPO Industry Employees’ Network (BIEN) in Cebu said on Thursday, October 2, that hundreds of agents from at least 10 business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in Cebu reported labor rights and occupational safety and health violations.
‘Agents were also being forced to report to work, despite their pleas to focus on their safety and their families during this crisis,’ the organization said in a statement.
Other cases reported to BIEN Cebu include BPO agents receiving notices to explain (NTEs) or unpaid days after prioritizing urgent personal needs in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Workers also raised concerns over retaliatory actions, including the removal of attendance incentives, loss of benefits, and other punitive measures such as sanctions and suspensions.
With no regard for employees safety, some BPO firms allegedly blocked their offices’ emergency exits when their agents returned to the production floor after the earthquake, despite warnings of aftershocks.
When they were required to evacuate, a pregnant woman was reportedly not even given any assistance going down flights of stairs.
No safety clearance
Some BPOs also purportedly failed to provide any memorandum or clearance ensuring the safety of its employees when ordered back to work.
While some reportedly offered double pay to agents who returned to work, BIEN Cebu stressed that such incentives failed to address critical safety concerns.
Workers also pointed to the absence of support measures such as transportation assistance, psychological debriefing, or medical aid for those affected by the quake.
In some cases, BPO agents were required to sign memos prohibiting them from discussing their working conditions on social media.
Criticism of government oversight
BIEN Cebu said the mounting complaints and labor violations reflects the government’s lack of oversight over BPO companies and issues of deregulation.
‘The government as well showed its prioritization of corporate interest over employee well-being in their decision to not declare imminent danger, instead passing the decision of how to handle the emergency situation to private companies,’ the organization said.
The group added that if the government can suspend classes to keep students safe after possible school damage, private companies like BPOs should also be required to get building inspections before workers return.
‘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,’ BIEN Cebu said.
Planned complaints. BIEN Cebu plans to file labor violation complaints before the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Central Visayas.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Tommy Osmeña also offered personal assistance by sharing his contact number, encouraging people to send in detailed complaints.
He said the city would not only file formal reports but also inform BPO clients about the conduct of the companies they’ve hired.
The deadly earthquake already claimed 72 lives and left hundreds injured as multiple buildings collapsed. According to Phivolcs, more than 2,000 aftershocks have been recorded, with additional tremors expected in the coming weeks.