Dear Ms. Gempesaw,

I am a concerned BPO worker in CS Routing Concentrix Megamall site 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.

This is with respect to the decision of Concentrix Management to commence the resumption of onsite work in the near future. Such plan has resulted in employee’s additional stress and anxiety demanding the leadership and management to take an alternative course of action instead. The aim is to respectfully convey, as raised by the employees, the problems that may arise from allowing onsite work to push through. In addition, 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 urgently call on the Management to look into our plight and take action on our demands; to wit:

The first issue that arises is financial security. It has been established repeatedly that the economic welfare of the employees is still taking the negative impact. During a state in which the citizens are generally, struggling with their livelihood may not be in the best interests of society, for it may only serve to create a gap between employees in terms of employment. As of now, the financial welfare of the employees’ families holds more value than the prospect of income/capitalism in the time of a pandemic.

On 17 March 2020, the Philippine Government declared an enhanced community quarantine to prevent the further spread of the pandemic COVID 19. Public transport was suspended and most industries were shut down except for essential ones. However, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) also announced, “all BPOs will remain operational”.

A few days into the enhanced community quarantine, many Concentrix workers continue to risk their health to go to work even with the absence of public transport. While work from home arrangements has been set up, some CNX Employees also kept captive in onsite accommodation. Many are forced to consume their leave credits during the quarantine period and some employees are still lost in the dark with the leadership suspending operations but without guaranteeing income for affected workers.

Amid this extraordinary time, we call on Concentrix Management and Leadership to put employees’ health and well-being a top priority. Let us stay at home!

We believe that continuous onsite operation may not contain the spread of the virus and onsite accommodation may compromise the health and safety of employees.

Therefore, we appeal for urgent action on the following:
• Suspend onsite work and continue set up work-from-home arrangements
• Guarantee income and paid time off for affected employees with no reduction in leave credits
• Modify and shorten the process of availing the benefits when employee is diagnosed as PUI, PUM and COVID-19 Positive
• Review and modification of tools as it has a strong impact on the AP
• Provide free mass testing and treatment for all COVID 19 employees

In addition, Concentrix should continuously provide for logistical support such as equipment, internet allowance and other technical needs for work-from-home arrangements. We also call on the Management and Leadership to provide socio-economic support for CNX Employees to mitigate the adverse economic impacts of the pandemic outbreak.

Lastly, the current condition of the community is simply not yet ideal for onsite work as the situation may still be too difficult to even allow it. Structured and specific plans have yet to be imposed for the employees to have more confidence in the mitigation of risks. The issues of transportation, mass testing, and flattening the curve all directly relate to the ability of CNX Employees to execute their duties safely and with little worry.

Nevertheless, the principle of inclusivity and Health & Safety for all is a factor that should be considered that is in line with fairness and equality. It may be best to wait for more official announcements from the government before the Management and Leadership take any further action in commencing onsite work.

Now more than ever, CONCENTRIX MUST uphold and act to protect the rights and livelihood of its Employees. The Management and Leadership are summoned to practice due diligence to prevent the spread of COVID 19 and contribute in alleviating its impact on the livelihood of Employees and our Families.

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