BPO Workers Demands for Safety, Jobs and Rights during the COVID 19 pandemic

Sec. Silvestre Bello III, Department of Labor and Employment (Philippines)

The COVID pandemic and its economic consequences heavily impacted BPO workers’ safety, jobs and rights at work. From rising COVID cases in BPO worksites, loss of job and income due to floating or no work no pay, to lack of logistical and utility support for WFH employees, BPO workers indeed hurdle more challenges at work. And when individual employees seek redress by speaking up, we are often ignored or worse, faced with retaliation. In these trying times, let us stand as one by signing this petition to call on the Philippine government and BPO companies to look into our plight and take action on our 18 demands:

A) Ensure occupational health and safety thru

1. Free mass testing, immediate contact tracing and free treatment of COVID 19.
2. Quarantine facilities for BPO workers
3. Resumption of workplace inspection
4. Near-site accommodation and/or door to door shuttle services for BPO employees
5. Mandatory hazard pay for workers working on site
6. Additional health benefits for workers
7. Prohibition of sharing of headsets in call centers

B) Uphold job security and guarantee income thru

8. Stopping floating while hiring by ensuring immediate redeployment of workers to other accounts
9. Re-training or up-skilling workers, if needed, to prevent retrenchment
10. Providing financial assistance or additional paid leaves
11. Providing ample logistical and equipment support to Work-at-Home agents
12. Mandatory provision of internet and electricity subsidy for Work-at-Home agents
13. Protecting work-from-agents from unfair productivity targets and long work hours
14. Improving the country’s internet infrastructure thru better government regulation

C) Upholding workers’ right to speak up and freedom of association

15. Protecting workers from company retaliation for speaking up about work grievances
16. Ensuring that OSH committees are set up in each work with workers representative
17. Ensure workers participation in decision-making at various levels (company, industry-level, regional or national level)
18. Ensure BPO workers’ right to self-organize and form unions is respected

BPO Workers Unite! Protect Workers from COVID19!
Free Mass testing and free treatment for COVID19!
Stop floating while hiring! Guarantee income and increase social protection for workers!
Uphold BPO worker’s rights to speak out and organize!

Let our voice be heard. Sign and Share this Petition !

Petition by
Gravatar
Immaculate Concepcion, Philippines

To: Sec. Silvestre Bello III, Department of Labor and Employment (Philippines)
From: [Your Name]

Dear Sec. Bello,

I am a concerned BPO employee and I appeal to your kind office to take action on our demands to protect our health and safety, jobs and economic well-being, and protection of our rights during this pandemic and community quarantine.

We, BPO workers, are also frontliners, by keeping the economy afloat despite the global and domestic slowdown. From day one of ECQ until now, we never stopped contributing to the industry and to our economy. Many of us who still report on-site, risk our life and limbs every day. And for those of us who are working at home are facing a lot of new challenges due to poor internet infrastructure, limited support and unfair policies on our targets.

Thousands among us have also been unjustly displaced from work and lost our source of livelihood yet we are exempted from government aid and very few companies offer financial support. Many companies are putting workers on No Work No Pay or on floating status even as they continue to hire new employees. Our hard work drives the BPO industry amid the pandemic but our grievances and voice in decision-making are often left unheard or even silenced.

Indeed this pandemic has brought more challenges for myself and my co-employees in the BPO industry. Thus, I respectfully call on the Philippine government thru your office look into our plight and take action on our 18 demands:

A) Ensure occupational health and safety thru
1. Free mass testing, immediate contact tracing and free treatment of COVID 19.
​2. Quarantine facilities for BPO workers
​3. Resumption of workplace inspection
​4. Near-site accommodation and/or door to door shuttle services for BPO employees
​5. Mandatory hazard pay for workers working on site
​6. Additional health benefits for workers
​7. Prohibition of sharing of headsets in call centers

B) Uphold job security and guarantee income thru
8. Stopping floating while hiring by ensuring immediate redeployment of workers to other accounts
​9. Re-training or up-skilling workers, if needed, to prevent retrenchment
​10. Providing financial assistance or additional paid leaves
11. Providing ample logistical and equipment support to Work-at-Home agents
​12. Mandatory provision of internet and electricity subsidy for Work-at-Home agents
​13. Protecting work-from-agents from unfair productivity targets and long work hours
​14. Improving the country’s internet infrastructure thru better government regulation

C) Upholding workers’ right to speak up and freedom of association
15. Protecting workers from company retaliation for speaking up about work grievances
​16. Ensuring that OSH committees are set up in each work with workers representative
​17. Ensure workers participation in decision-making at various levels (company, industry-level, regional or national level)
​18. Ensure BPO workers’ right to self-organize and form unions is respected.

I trust that our petition won't fall on deaf ears. Thank you very much! Stay safe!