A labor NGO today threw its support behind employees of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector who are calling for an investigation into layoffs and alleged rights violations being carried out by a leading company operating in its three sites that are affecting more than 1,500 workers

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) backed the BPO Industry Employees Network’s (BIEN) call that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) investigate job cuts and labor rights violations undertaken by BPO company TTEC (formerly TeleTech) in Novaliches, Cebu, and Iloilo.

“Various reports show that something is going on in TTEC sites across the country and it is negative for workers’ rights. The layoffs and violations of labor rights should stop, and the DOLE must step in immediately into the issues facing TTEC employees,” said Kamz Deligente, CTUHR executive director.

According to more than 200 employees interviewed by BIEN, TTEC has allegedly pressured workers to resign with the threat that refusing to do so would damage their employment records and result in losing gratuity benefits; deactivated systems without explanation; and accused employees of wrongdoing without evidence.

The employees also complained that the company subjected workers to an unspecified “floating status”; “verbal humiliation, public shaming, intimidation, and fear”; non-payment and late release of benefits; and retaliation when they speak up against unfair management practices.

“Issues between BPO companies and their clients are not legitimate excuses to set aside employees’ job security and labor rights. Employees are different from management. What appears to be a systematic effort cannot be blamed on employees,” Deligente stated.

The management actions cited above occurred after leading American telecommunications company Verizon, TTEC’s client, found out that TTEC “orchestrated systematic manipulation of customer surveys and account metrics to secure higher rankings and incentives from the client.”

“It is deeply disturbing when companies that are perfectly capable of upholding and advancing workers’ rights are flagrantly violating those rights. The Philippine government should step in into this issue to ensure that workers are not treated like trash by big corporations,” Deligente added.

Online information about TTEC Philippines states that the company is one of TTEC’s biggest regional operations, has 18 sites across the country, and employs more than 23,000 people. Verizon, meanwhile, is one of the biggest telecommunications companies in the world, with USD 134 billion in revenue, and with 90,000 employees worldwide.