Senate bill seeks to ensure job security, calamity protection for BPO employees
At A Glance
- Sen. Raffy Tulfo, in filing Senate Bill No. 1493 or the proposed "BPO Workers' Welfare and Protection Act," sought to enhance job security and access for medical benefits for BPO employees.
Senator Raffy Tulfo (Senate PRIB photo)
Sen. Raffy Tulfo, in filing Senate Bill No. 1493 or the proposed “BPO Workers’ Welfare and Protection Act,” sought to enhance job security and access for medical benefits for BPO employees.
The bill also seeks the establishment of a national entry-level wage, aligned with the family living wage, for them.
“This bill aims to uphold and safeguard the rights of many Filipinos, particularly those from the youth demographic, who seek immediate employment in BPO firms,” said Tulfo, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor & Employment.
“It reiterates the labor standards defined in the Labor Code and introduces additional benefits intended to tackle specific challenges and issues linked to the nature of BPO work,” he also said.
Under the bill, working time for BPO workers shall be automatically suspended in cases of typhoons, earthquakes, volcanic eruption, fire, and other such states of calamity.
Tulfo said the filing of the bill is in response to recent allegations BPO companies endangered employees during super typhoon Uwan as workers were ordered to physically report for work despite the hazards.
These forced BPO workers to wade through floodwaters, endure power outages and risk their safety.
The bill also proposed that their work be voluntary on days when there is heavy rain and other instances of inclement weather conditions, with workers receiving the necessary hazard pay.
The measure also seeks to ensure that BPO workers be considered regular employees when the BPO worker is allowed to work after the maximum probationary period of six months, and if the training period is less than six months, the BPO worker shall be considered a regular employee after they finish the training.
Likewise, the bill also recommend an entry-level wage of not less than P36,000 for BPO workers, as well as access to medical benefits upon joining the company, rather than only after regularization.