THE Cebu IT BPM.Organization (CIB.O) has assured that the call center company accused of allegedly violating labor laws are discussing their side of the story.

Wilfredo Sa-a, managing director of CIB.O, said the company is “very concerned with the issue.”

“They are currently discussing it internally all the way to the top. They will release their side of the story as soon as they can,” he told SunStar Cebu.

The CIB.O, formerly the Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology, is a full-time industry association that aims to sustain the growth of Cebu’s Information and Technology and business process management industry.

Sa-a said CiB.O they have always taken a more “proactive” stance on the matter.

He said their members were given regular updates and advisories regarding the executive orders issued by Mayor Edgardo Labella in relation to measures against the coronavirus disease.

On March 16, 2020, two weeks before Cebu City was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the CIB.O held a teleconference with some major players in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry together with Councilor Eduardo Rama Jr.

During the meeting, the city official emphasized that as much as possible, there should be a work from home option for the employees during the ECQ.

If this would not be possible, Rama suggested temporarily housing employees in hotels along with a shuttle service.

But BPO companies had a few reservations on this.

Their topmost concern on the work from home scheme was the stability of the internet connection, data privacy and client consent to take out the work, and the availability of pocket WiFi and modems.

Sa-a said they are also waiting for the concerned call center company to issue its statement.

“It caught us by surprise why the unfortunate incident happened,” he added.

Sa-a said even the main office of the BPO firm does not have direct control over their subcontractor since it is a United States-negotiated contract. (JOB)