DOLE suspends Cebu BPO operations over safety lapses after earthquake

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has ordered the suspension of a Cebu-based business process outsourcing (BPO) firm after inspectors found violations of workplace safety and disaster preparedness protocols following the magnitude-6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu province on Sept. 30.

- By TRIXEE ROSEL

In a statement, DOLE said its regional office in Central Visayas issued the cease-and-desist order after inspectors found that the company exposed its employees to “imminent danger” due to the absence of an emergency and disaster response plan.

Based on the findings of DOLE-Region 7, the firm violated several provisions of Department Order (DO) 252, Series of 2025, including the absence of an Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan under its Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Program and the lack of earthquake-related risk assessments in its Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Control (HIRAC) system.