Cebu BPO firms accused of labor violations after M6.9 quake

AT least ten Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies in Cebu City are facing accusations of violating labor rights and occupational safety standards in the aftermath of the September 30 earthquake.

The BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN)-Cebu reported these alleged violations in a Facebook post on Thursday, citing reports from BPO workers.

According to BIEN-Cebu, employees reported being forced back to work just 30 minutes after the earthquake, despite ongoing aftershocks and blocked emergency exits.

Some companies allegedly offered double pay to incentivize continued work, while employees who chose to go home faced punitive measures such as suspensions, pay cuts, loss of bonuses, or threats of dismissal.

BIEN also highlighted reports of a pregnant employee being left unaided during evacuation, a lack of medical or psychological support for staff, and instances where employees were allegedly forced to sign memos prohibiting them from speaking out about the situation.

BIEN Cebu has strongly condemned these practices and is calling on the Department of Labor and Employment to hold the companies accountable for endangering workers’ lives.