Bureau of Working Conditions Urges BPO Sector to Strengthen Worker Safety Protocols Amid Disasters

The Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) has urged the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector to adopt comprehensive best practices aimed at safeguarding employee health and safety during emergencies. This call comes in light of employee concerns voiced following recent natural calamities.

In a televised interview, BWC Director Alvin Curada emphasized the need for the BPO industry, coordinating through the Industry Tripartite Council, to develop standardized protocols for operation amidst severe weather disturbances. He stated, "They should talk about those challenges so they can get recommendations, ways forward, and best practices and, thus, prevent it from happening again."

Curada further highlighted the importance of preparing robust business continuity plans. "They must have a business continuity plan so that, if there are similar scenarios, they'll know what to do," he explained.

Addressing the issue of companies pressuring staff to work during dangerous conditions due to high client demand, Curada remarked, "Using high client demand as a reason to force employees to work during bad weather is not acceptable. Our workers have the right to refuse work if they feel there is imminent danger when they report to work."

These statements follow reports from the BPO Industry Employees' Network (Bien) Philippines, which revealed that 21 BPO companies maintained a "business-as-usual" stance during the impact of Super Typhoon Uwan. Bien noted that employees were largely left to manage the hazardous situation without adequate company support amid the severe flooding.

In response, the Department of Labor and Employment has initiated an investigation into the practices of these 21 BPO firms to ensure compliance with worker safety standards.