DOLE, BPO partners craft best practices code

Manila (4 November) — The Department of Labor and Employment and its tripartite partners in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry has agreed on the creation of a voluntary code of industry best practices which can best address the difficulties that workers and employees in this booming industry face.

This was the consensus arrived at during the consultative meeting organized recently by the DOLE-National Capital Region with its key partners in the BPO industry to gather recommendations and inputs on the formation BPO industry tripartite council (BPO-ITC), including the establishment of a voluntary code of best practices that will address the needs and concerns of both employers and workers in the industry.

Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante said DOLE aims to help the BPO industry create its own voluntary code of best practices to enable players to create more efficient and proactive industry rules responsive and sensitive not only to the needs of workers but also to the requirements of employers.

The voluntary code, he said, could address many issues, including those concerns inherent in the industry which BPO workers have to face, such as the potential dangers and difficulties in availing of transport services at night; effect on the health and body rhythms of call center agents in terms of sleep and nourishment; depravation of socialization opportunities, like attending to family and other social gatherings; working in ungodly hours; exposure to racist and insulting remarks during business encounters; and the need for strong cooperation among the key actors-employers, government, ducational and training institutions, and labor organizations.

The consultative meeting also discussed the implications of House Bill No. 2592, An Act Ensuring the Welfare and Protection of Business Process Outsourcing Workers and the Recognition of their Rights as provided for in the Labor Code of the Philippines, authored by KABATAAN Party-list Representative Raymund V. Palatino.

Agravante said the second consultative meeting is on November 17, where he expects the formal establishment of BPO-ITC.

DOLE Undersecretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac, DOLE National Capital Region (NCR) Director Raymundo G. Agravante; Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) Director Brenda Villafuerte; Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) Executive Director Dr. Ma. Teresita Cucueco; DOLE-NCR Makati-Pasay Field Office Director Nelson Hornilla; Mariane Macayra, Employees Compensation Commission (ECC); Bitz Carlos, Voice of the Call Center Industry; Jesus B. Villamor, Voice-Likha-TUCP; Dr. Maria Beatriz G. Villanueva, OSHC; Flor Cabatingan, TUCP; and Mike Chua, Health Care Information Management Outsourcing Association of the Philippines (HCIMOA) attended the meeting. (PIA)