A labor NGO expressed grave concern today over the termination of John Kyle Enero, a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) worker-organizer in Cebu, calling it a clear act of retaliation and a blatant attack on the fundamental right of workers to organize.

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) said Enero’s termination by Azpired Inc. on August 11, 2026, came after a pattern of harassment and heightened scrutiny that intensified following Enero’s involvement in advocating for workers’ rights as a member and spokesperson of the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN).

“The termination of Kyle Enero is a textbook case of how corporations use vague allegations and administrative procedures to silence labor leaders. They want to instill a culture of fear to stop BPO workers from demanding their basic rights to safety and fair wages,” said Kamz Deligente, CTUHR executive director.

Kyle Enero had worked in the BPO industry for three years and was a Customer Service Representative at Azpired Inc. before being accused of “unauthorized disclosure” related to facilitating system access for a former employee. He consistently denied these claims, noting that the company failed to provide specific evidence or even a clear explanation of the alleged violation, depriving him of his right to due process.

CTUHR highlighted that the harassment began as early as October 2025, after Enero served as an employee representative during Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) inspections following a 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu.

He played an instrumental leadership role during this crisis, exposing BPO firms that forced employees to work despite grave safety risks. His brave defense of workers’ safety established him as a key leader, but it also made him a target.

Management reportedly warned him to “tread carefully” immediately after BIEN filed formal complaints regarding the OSH violations issue.

“Terminating a leader for organizing is a threat to every worker in the sector. It warns them that defending their rights could lead to losing their jobs,” Deligente added.

Management’s actions reached a fever pitch just as Kyle Enero and his colleagues were intensifying their campaign for a ₱1,200 regional minimum wage increase and better working conditions. It is no coincidence that a worker who consistently advocated for the rights of others was suddenly targeted for termination based on vague assertions.

CTUHR further criticized the company’s attempt to offer a settlement agreement that included a social media prohibition, which would have prevented Enero from speaking publicly about his termination. CTUHR argued that such gag orders are used to hide labor rights violations from public scrutiny.

“We stand in solidarity with Kyle Enero and the BPO workers of Cebu. We call on the Department of Labor and Employment to move beyond its habitual indifference and conduct a thorough investigation into this clear case of retaliatory dismissal and FOA violation. We call on the Marcos Jr. administration to stop being servile to foreign investors and instead uphold the constitutional rights of workers to organize without fear of retaliation,” Deligente ended.

CTUHR called for Enero’s immediate reinstatement, an end to the harassment of BPO workers and union organizers, and the full protection of workers’ rights to organize and speak out.