Proposed legislation in the United States that aims to discourage call center companies from hiring workers abroad poses a “clear threat” to the Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) industry and the millions it employs, a labor group warned on Sunday.
Renso Bajala, secretary general of the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN), said the “Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025” would penalize U.S. companies that offshore call center jobs by disqualifying them from federal grants or loans.
“This would discourage companies from outsourcing talent abroad — such as the Philippines, where foreign firms seek cheap labor to cut costs — in favor of U.S. job seekers,” Bajala said.
He noted that the proposed measure comes as BPO workers already face the threat of layoffs due to the rise of artificial intelligence in workplaces.
“Malinaw siya na banta. It’s a threat sa kabuhayan ng milyon-milyong [Pilipino] kasi 1.9 [million] as of 2025 ‘yung employed sa BPO industry,” he said.
Bajala warned that the U.S. proposal could trigger a domino effect in other outsourcing hubs, including Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
He added that the situation underscores the Philippines’ “weak” economic dependence on foreign corporations and urged for stronger industrialization to empower local industries and create more domestic opportunities.