DOLE-7 backs initiatives for BPO worker's welfare

The Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas (DOLE-7) expressed its solidarity with the Inter-Call Center Association of Workers (ICCAW) in advocating for the protection and welfare of workers in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

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Atty. Roy Lloren Buenafe, DOLE-7 director, said the agency fully supports ICCAW's call to uphold workers' rights and safety, as emphasized in its recent statement.

However, he appealed for understanding from ICCAW's officers and members, stressing that sanctions against employers can only be imposed after both substantive and procedural due process are observed, in accordance with the rule of law.

Buenafe also acknowledged ICCAW's proposal to strengthen compliance with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards, emphasizing that all workplaces are legally required to maintain a duly approved OSH Program that includes protocols for natural calamities such as earthquakes and typhoons.

He encouraged ICCAW to provide DOLE-7 with a list of companies allegedly violating labor laws and to collaborate with the labor department in building networks that promote workplace safety, tripartism, and industrial peace across the BPO industry in Central Visayas.

The DOLE-7, likewise, commended ICCAW's proactive initiatives in promoting inclusion, collaboration, and justice among BPO workers.