US bills threaten IT-BPM sector

The information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector is monitoring developments concerning a growing legislative push in the United States (US) that seeks to curb offshoring.

- DEXTER BARRO II

The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said the industry is currently assessing the potential progress of two bills filed in the US Senate, which are seen to directly impact revenues and employment.

Filed in July, the proposed Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 aims to curb offshoring, or the relocation of business operations from one country to another, in the IT-BPM sector.

The bill is intended to reverse the decline of call center operations in the US by limiting federal benefits to companies that ship employment overseas.

Under the bill, call center firms that are found to have relocated operations would be ineligible for new federal grants and guaranteed loans, among other benefits.