FDI pledges tuition refund for BPO working students

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the presence of more than a few international call centers in Cebu, a US-based call center company is bullish with its multi-million investment in Mandaue City, armed with a distinct promise for its employees.

Focus Direct Incorporated site director Ryan Beattie said what makes them different from the other call centers is that aside from providing employment, it is also one of their objectives to encourage students who would want to study and work at the same time.

Beattie said they would even in fact reimburse 75 percent of the tuition fees of their student-employees. This has already been widely availed of by their agents in Bacolod, where their first facility in the country is located.

Soon to kick off operations by September, FDI representatives yesterday announced that they are currently doing interviews for the various positions. Aside from student-employees, FDI also hires full time employees for as long as the applicants have the qualifications and are able to speak and understand the English language very well.

Beattie added that aside from the competitive salary packages for the employees, the relatively small company adds ease to the working environment of its employees. He said that because of their small organizational structure, those from the top ranks down to the agents would know each other within a stress-free working ambiance.

“They could even e-mail the CEO in Utah , USA , where our main office is, and could share their ideas,” he added.

He said their facility, which will be located at the IT Gothong building in Subangdaku, Mandaue, will have at most 600 employees.      

By August 3 to 15, the company will cater to walk-in applicants, wherein screening and final interviews will happen simultaneously.

Beattie said they perceive Mandaue as a fitting place to put in their business but likewise admitted that they are also looking for other strategic places in Cebu City .

He mentioned having considered the Asiatown IT Park, where the huge call centers are located, however decided not to locate there as they are not competing against these companies.

“They are huge, we do not like to be that,” said Beattie who added that they would want to continue on establishing a company like the one that they already have where employees know each other and have good working relationships.

“We came to Cebu, not to make money and afterwards run away, but because we would want to help.”

The company is engaged in in-bound customer service and sales assistance for companies offering health supplements and supplies, among others.            

Beattie said that some of their clients in the states are ATnT and direct TV and also some small companies as well.

Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes welcomed the new company in the city saying that they would be a big help especially in giving jobs for those who were retrenched due to the crisis.

He said that Mandaue is becoming a strategic place seen by economic players and in return they will be extending the necessary help like making investment packages which could help in different aspects.

“We definitely consider them as a partner,” said Cortes who shared that as of now, there are around four major call centers in Mandaue City. —AJ de la Torre