Senator Raffy Tulfo has filed Senate Bill No. 1493, the “BPO Workers’ Welfare and Protection Act,” aiming to strengthen job security and provide medical benefits for business process outsourcing (BPO) employees. The measure also proposes a national entry-level wage of at least P36,000 for all BPO workers.
Under the bill, BPO employees would be regularized after a maximum six-month probation or upon completion of training if it is shorter than six months.
“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,” Tulfo said.
“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 added.
The proposed legislation would also allow BPO workers to self-organize for collective bargaining and participate in workplace policy decisions affecting employee rights.
Tulfo filed the bill amid reports that some BPO companies required employees to physically report during Super Typhoon Uwan. The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), however, said its member-companies comply with labor rules during natural disasters.