​We, the undersigned BPO workers, families, and concerned citizens, call on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to immediately direct the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to declare an “Imminent Danger” situation in BPO workplaces across the country amid worsening rains and typhoons.

This declaration is critical to safeguard the health, safety, and dignity of thousands of BPO workers who are currently being compelled to report on site—despite severe flooding, transportation shutdowns, and heightened disaster alerts in their communities.
We demand that DOLE urgently exercise its mandate under occupational safety and health (OSH) standards and issue the following directives to BPO companies in affected regions:
1. Allow Work-from-Home or Alternate-Site Operations
Companies must immediately shift operations to remote work or off-site locations, where feasible, to remove workers from risk.
2. Grant Paid Emergency Leave for On-site-Only Roles
If remote work is not feasible due to the nature of the task, workers must be given paid disaster emergency leave so they are not forced to choose between survival and starvation.
3. Hazard Pay for On-site Workers
Those who still opt or are compelled to go on site must be entitled to at least 100% hazard pay, recognizing the real occupational risk involved in commuting through floods and disaster zones.
4. Respect the Right to Refuse Unsafe Work
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DOLE must reiterate and uphold workers’ legal right to refuse unsafe work under RA 11058 and DO 198-18. BPO companies must not penalize or threaten workers for choosing to stay home during emergencies.
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Letting workers stay at home also enables them to protect their families, secure their homes, and prepare for possible evacuation or power and water interruptions. It is not only humane—it is necessary.
President Marcos: Act now—before more lives are put in danger.
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Signed,
BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN)
and all concerned signatories