TUCP inks pact with BPO stakeholders to advance workers’ interests

MANILA, Philippines—Departing from the traditional Labor Day union activities, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines – International Trade Union Confederation (TUCP-ITUC) forged a partnership agreement, on Tuesday, with players in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

“The problems besetting labor such as security of tenure, contractualization, violation of labor standard laws are primarily consequences of high unemployment. We need to concretize and address the real problem outright. And the only way is to strengthen labor-government-industry cooperation for employment creation and industrial peace,” said TUCP-ITUC president and former Sen. Ernesto Herrera.

The signing of agreement coincided with the launching of a BPO national association, which aims to protect and improve productivity among industry workers.

Calling themselves BPO Workers Association of the Philippines (BWAP), the newly formed group is headed by former labor leader Ruben Torres, who also served as labor secretary during the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos.

Torres noted that the 700,000 workers in the BPO industry have remained unorganized all over the country.

“They are largely unprotected from unhealthy working conditions, unfair labor practices and lack of employment security,” he said.

BWAP provides training for call center representatives and supervisors and skills upgrading for jobs required by BPO companies or principals. –Tina G. Santos, Philippine Daily Inquirer