Call center agents want to have own partylist

BY IRMA ISIP


Call center agents want their voice heard in Congress.

About 70,000 agents, representing more than 10 percent of the 800,000-workforce of the $6-billion business process outsourcing/call center industry which collectively call themselves the Association of Call Center Agents of the Philippines (ACCAP), joins the long list of advocacy groups that consider themselves marginalized and want to have partylist representation in Congress.

In a press conference, ACCAP secretary-general Kevin Carreon said since unionism is not allowed in their sector, forming a party is the workers’ attempt to give their ranks security and protection.

Margarita Caparas, ACCAP spokesperson, said although call center agents are among the better-compensated and enjoy better benefits, they have odd working hours and stressful routines.

Moreover, Caparas said, there are issues overlooked by employers, including standardization of wages and benefits.

Entry-level salary of call agents averages at P13,500 a month. Benefits include meal allowance, transportation allowance, rice subsidy and night differential, among others.

If it wins representation in Congress, ACCAP will file legislation that will improve agents’ welfare and industry’s growth.

Some of its advocacies:

• A retirement fund similar to a 401k that will ensure better financial future and comfortable retirement for all BPO workers.
• Affordable housing for BPO workers to ensure a stable future for their families
• Education that will improve acceptance rates of call center agent applicants and bring about increased growth in the industry
• Full transparency and regular self-audit of legislative funding privileges and publish its reports on its website viewable to the public
• Lower annual attrition of call center and BPO agents as well as improve remuneration (special incentives and holidays) and other benefits.

ACCAP will push for government administrative body that will address all concerns of BPO workers.

The proposed administrative body, patterned after the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, will function as an umbrella agency that will address concerns that include:

• Pre-employment audit of BPO workers contracts to ensure their company’s compliance with Philippine labor policies.
• Financial assistance and temporary shelter to its constituents in events of dire financial trouble, work displacement and emergency situations.
• Health care assistance through HMO coverage.
• Free legal assistance, especially on labor cases.
• Assistance in availing government mandated benefits such as Pag-Ibig, Philhealth and SSS.

ACCAP was formed in 2007 as a non-profit, stock organization.


Source: http://www.malaya.com.ph/11252009/busi3.html