Night sleep for call center workers urged

CEBU, Philippines - A city councilor is calling on call centers in the city to adopt a so-called “Occupational Safety and Health Program” that would allow their workers to get enough sleep at night.

In a resolution submitted during the regular session of the City Council yesterday, Councilor Edgardo Labella cited a study that says lengthening the workday actually affects the productivity of workers, something that would affect the productivity of the company as a whole in the long run.

A report of the World Health Organization indicates that workers assigned in graveyard shifts are prone to serious ailments due to forcing day sleep patterns.

A night sleep accordingly lays the foundation of sound health, as the human body is pre-programmed to sleep during the night when the light sensitive retina sends sleep signals to the body’s “circadian biological clock.”Labella said a 4pm –12 midnight shift would allows call center workers to sleep from 1am until daybreak while a 1am – 8am shift would allow workers night sleep from 5pm to 12midnight.

“We therefore call the Human Resource Personnel of all call centers in Cebu City to become instrumental in changing their work cultures by crafting an Occupational Safety and Health Program that truly addresses the physical and psychological well-being of their working environment,” Labella said.

Labella also called on non-government research organizations, schools and universities to help government in profiling call center workers that have worked for at least two years in the industry and have displayed manifestations of adverse health conditions.

These manifestations reportedly include insomnia, high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythm, among others.

Labella, likewise, urged the Department of Labor and Employment to check if call centers in the Visayas have initiated OSH programs for their workers.

There are around 50 call centers in the entire Visayas. — Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO  (THE FREEMAN)