WITH the compliance of the majority of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies on the government’s guidelines on flexible work arrangements, some call center agents have expressed fears on their possible displacement.
In a radio interview with 87.5 Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR), Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reported that as of March 25, 55 BPO companies have successfully followed the guidelines set by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) out of 77 BPOs inspected.
Call center agent Jon, not his real name, said his employer is one of companies which adhered with implementing a skeleton workforce and work from home (WFH) set up, however, accommodates only a limited number of call center agents.
He added only those with stable internet connections and owned or can provide the required equipment will be allowed to work from home.
“The rest kay no work-no pay,” he said, adding that they are advised to exhaust their leave credits so they can still get compensation and calamity loans were also made available for them to avail.
“Ang nakaapan lang kay unsaon tong mga reps (representative) na wala nay leave credits? Wala silay magamit for those days na wala silay trabaho (What will happen to the call center agents who have used up their leave credits. They will no longer be paid for days that they do not have work),” he said.
Another call center agent Sede Cujardo said the same set up is also being implemented in their company.
“Force to use leave credits if wala na jud lain option and depende pud sa account. Naa man gud accounts na dili mo sugot og WFH tas puno na ang onsite and hotel accommodation so dili na jud ma cater ang company (There are accounts that do not allow WFH set up and the company can no longer cater more agents as skeleton workforce),” she said.
“Naay gina-offer among company na calamity loan. If wala jud credits and dili ganahan gamiton, forced to file LOA (leave of absence) sila (The company also offers calamity loans and when there are no more options, the agents will be forced to file LOA),” she said.
She said the agents were allowed by the company to choose which work arrangement they find favorable but her account did not agree.
Because of that, she said she was forced to use her leave credits and if there will be no other way, she will avail of the calamity loan.
In an interview on 87.5 DCDR on Friday, March 27, Department of Labor and Employment in Davao Region (Dole-Davao Region) assistant regional director Jason Balais said the setup is considered legal under the country’s Labor Code.
“Kung work from home gyud, premise man na sa work nga kung naay work, naay bayad. Pero kung temporarily nagsuspend gyud ang ilang operations, naa lang sila sa balay, walay work nga nahitabo (You should be paid even if you work from home. If work is temporarily suspended and there is no work taking place), it is going to be a no work-no pay arrangements,” he said.
“Kung naa pa silay mga leave entitlements nga wala pa nila nagamit, kato pwede to nga didto mahapak ang ilahang absences karon unya magpadayon silag sweldo (They can use their unused leave credits and be paid in their absences),” he added.
Balais said some companies, although not required, gave assistance to their employees whose work will be suspended.
However, he expected that the employees can still return to work as soon as the health crisis returns to normal.
“Ang atong panawagan sa pagkakaron, kung dili lang gyud makatrabaho, ato lang usang ibutang sa status nga dili gyud terminated. In the meantime, pwede nga no work lang sa sila tapos kung kinahanglan na pud, kung normal na ang sitwasyon, ibalik nato sila sa ilang karaan nga mga pwesto (We call on the companies to allow their employees to work again when the health situation returns to normal),” he said.
Balais also urged companies to apply for the labor department’s Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (Camp) which will grant temporarily displaced employees with P5,000 cash assistance.
As of March 26, 2020, Dole-Davao Region has approved the application of 66 private establishments with 1,989 workers in the region.
Of the number, 26 companies with 931 employees have applied for flexible work arrangement while 40 establishments with 1,058 workers have applied for temporary closure.
Balais said the budget of P9,945,000 for the first batch is expected to be received by April 2020.
Cujardo and Jon said their employers have promised them the P5,000 cash grant.
Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio said 14 BPO companies have indicated to close throughout the implementation of the community quarantine. Three BPO companies have already been permanently closed and one will be closed because the management cannot be reached out.
Duterte-Carpio also appealed to the BPO companies to strictly follow the guidelines.
Based on Executive Order No. 20, non-compliance of the BPOs companies will be subjected for closure.