BPO firms urged to offer work-from-home setup

Local

THE Cebu City Council has urged business process outsourcing (BPO) companies to allow qualified employees to work from home until the tremors cease.

Councilor Joel Garganera, in an approved resolution, appealed to BPO firms to demonstrate "flexibility and compassion" by providing remote work arrangements for employees working in high-rise buildings.

“The safety and well-being of employees must always be prioritized, especially when natural calamities pose risks to physical and mental health,” the resolution stated.

Garganera said the city has recorded “consecutive earthquakes in recent weeks,” heightening anxiety among BPO employees still required to report to multi-story offices.

“Many BPO employees have expressed fear over their safety, which in turn affects their focus, productivity, and overall work quality,” he added.

According to the councilor, most employees already have the equipment, stable internet connection, and conducive environments to maintain their performance remotely.

Allowing work-from-home setups, he said, would not only keep operations steady but also help avoid congestion in office spaces and allow faster evacuation during emergencies.

The council’s move comes as the Department of Labor and Employment-Central Visayas (Dole-7) investigates reports that some BPO companies forced employees to return to their posts shortly after the 6.9-magnitude earthquake.

Dole-7 Director Lawyer Roy Buenafe confirmed that inspection teams were dispatched to check compliance with occupational safety and health (OSH) standards.

“No worker should be forced to choose between safety and livelihood,” Buenafe said. “Employers cannot compel employees to report when there is imminent danger, such as earthquakes or aftershocks.”

Under Labor Advisory No. 17, Series of 2022, workers may refuse to report if safety risks exist. Only authorized engineers or relevant government agencies can certify that a building is safe for occupancy.

The BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN)-Cebu earlier reported that at least 10 BPO firms allegedly breached OSH standards by directing employees to return barely 30 minutes after the tremor.

Some companies allegedly threatened disciplinary action or salary deductions against those who refused, while others offered double pay to convince workers to stay.

“These are unacceptable labor practices,” BIEN-Cebu said in a statement, urging government intervention to safeguard employee welfare.

Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña also denounced the alleged violations, saying he will directly reach out to the foreign clients of erring BPO companies if proven true.

“We will hit them where it hurts,” Osmeña warned. “If this happened to you, I will help. Send me a message — I will verify, and we will act.”

The magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Bogo City at 9:59 p.m. on September 30, shaking much of northern Cebu and prompting a state of calamity declaration.(TGP)