MANY employees in the business-process outsourcing (BPO) sector are now left vulnerable from the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) due to existing gaps in government policies.
This is according to BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN), which raised concern over the rising number of BPO workers infected with Covid-19.
“It is alarming how there is an increasing number of positive [cases] in the BPO industry,” BIEN President Mylene Cabalona said in an online briefing on Tuesday.
Covid prevalence
She said they have received reports that at least 15 BPO companies have now rising cases of Covid-19.
BIEN said at least 120 BPO workers are now infected with Covid-19.
Cabalona said there could more; however, she noted BPO companies are “not transparent” when it comes to reporting Covid-19 cases in their premises.
This problem is compounded by the lack of enforcement of government guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in workplaces, particularly contact tracing.
“If a worker will test positive, no one will tell them not to go to work. Their company will insist that they report for work so their operations could continue,” Cabalona said.
Uncovered workers
Another issue raised by BIEN Vice President Sarah Prestoza was the lack of clear government policies on who should shoulder the testing of BPO workers.
“While the guidelines say that it can be covered by PhilHealth [Philippine Health Insurance Corp.], private health insurance, or in coordination with the LGUs [local government units], the group raised concerns that unless the government categorically guarantees it will shoulder the cost, then mandatory testing may end up as an additional burden for workers,” Prestoza said in a statement.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 20-04 last Friday, which listed industries to be covered by the expanded targeted testing for workers. The list did not include BPO employees.
On Monday, DOLE and DTI issued advisory No. 20-01 to clarify that the said regular testing of workers in specified industries is only optional. It also said the said tests will be paid by PhilHealth if undertaken by a worker.
Cabalona lamented the insufficient testing for BPO workers were among the reasons Covid-19 has spread in many BPO firms.
BIEN appealed to authorities to address these issues, especially since the BPO sector is one of the top key employment generators in the country with over 1.2 million employees.