DOLE probes reported closure of BPO company in Mandaue

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Labor and Employment-7 is doing an investigation into the reported closure of a call center company in Mandaue City.

DOLE-7 assistant director Lilia Estillore said the information provided by the Inter-Call Center Association of Workers (ICCAW) that Bluconnect Solutions has ceased operation on Saturday needs to be verified.

Estillore said that based on their initial investigation, the company was still operating when DOLE staff visited it the other night.

“Those information from ICCAW needs verification as to its accuracy,” said Estillore.

ICCAW, which assisted the employees who were “illegally” suspended, claimed that the company has stopped operating since Saturday.

The closure allegedly came after four of  its employees filed a complaint before DOLE for violations of labor standards.

ICCAW vice president Sylvio Dorig said they were told by Bluconnect employees themselves.

 Catherine Gauden, Cyndee Marie Sebado, Jean Rose Pindo, and Sarah Marohomsar accused the company of “illegally” suspending them.

Aside from them, 10 other employees filed a separate complaint before the National Labor Relations Commission-Regional Arbitration Board-7 last June 13 for violations of labor standards.

A hearing on the complaint is scheduled on July 7, 2014. — (FREEMAN)