‘Sanction BPO firms forcing work amid rains, floods’

MANILA, Philippines — Business process outsourcing firms should be sanctioned for requiring personnel to work despite dangerous weather conditions, BPO employees told the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Several BPO companies in Metro Manila are putting the lives of employees at risk while maintaining “business-as-usual” operations, workers said in an open letter.

Similar violations have been reported to the DOLE during Typhoon Tino’s onslaught, but the agency did not respond, they lamented.

“This silence and inaction have forced us to bring these issues directly to the public. If DOLE will not listen behind closed doors, perhaps they will listen when workers speak out together and online,” the employees said.

“We demand immediate and decisive action from DOLE to protect workers’ lives and uphold labor rights in times of disaster,” they added.

BPO firms should suspend work and grant emergency leave with pay, they emphasized.