Geline Salac

Employee safety comes first, earthquake or no

Article (news)

Aneth Ng-Lim

The magnitude 6.9 earthquake that jolted northern Cebu last week left a trail of devastation.  But one of the more shocking news came not from the natural disaster, but from the alleged practices of Cebu employers that put their workers in harm’s way.An independent group of business process outsourcing (BPO) employees raised the alarm saying they received hundreds of complaints of labor violations from their member agents. The BPO Industry Employees&#x27; Network (BIEN) Cebu filed a complaint before the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 7 against at least 10 BPO firms, citing multiple labor rights and safety violations during the earthquakeOne that left me terrified was the report that as the quake was happening, employees were being forced to take calls.  Others who decided to evacuate could not, as they found their floor’s exits blocked.Following the quake, agents were being forced to report to work, or face sanctions, loss of incentives or benefits, and other &quot;retaliatory actions.&quot;  Those who did not come to work were given notices to explain.  In the BPO industry, productivity metrics are mostly time-bound and include Average Handling Time, First Contact Resolution, Tasks Completed per Hour, and Turnaround Time among others.  Drops in scores have a direct effect on the bottom line because penalties are usually built into the contracts.  But the cost of life should always be higher than any workplace penalty.<div>DOLE takes action</div>A few days after BIEN’s complaint, it was good to see DOLE taking action.  It has stopped work at a BPO firm in Cebu that had no disaster response plan.  Another company was asked to submit proof of corrections after a recent inspection found it lacking in occupational safety and health (OSH) measures.DOLE is the lead government agency to ensure workplace safety, and compliance of companies to the Labor Code of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 11058 (An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards of 2018) and various DOLE regulations.BIEN named 10 BPO firms in its complaint, but let’s hope DOLE will take the initiative to investigate not only these 10, but conduct an industry-wide check.<div>Work Safety Checklist</div>This case does not only concern BPO employees.  Wherever you work, as a Filipino employee, you have the following rights by law.  Take this time to see if your employer scores a perfect 10.#1 You have the right to a Safe and Healthy Workplace.  Your workplace should be free from hazardous conditions that could cause injury, illness, or death.#2 You have the right to Know About Workplace Hazards.  Employers must inform employees of all workplace hazards and how they can protect themselves.#3 You should receive Mandatory Safety and Health Training. Employers should provide their workers orientation and regular training on OSH so they can stay safe while doing their work.#4 You are entitled to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  If you are given helmets, gloves, and masks at work, your employer is not being nice – the law requires them too.  And if they don’t, or asks you to pay for PPE when they are needed for your work, you can report them.#5 You have the right to Refuse Unsafe Work. You can refuse work if it poses imminent danger to your life or health.#6 You should be Protected Against Retaliation.  Employers cannot dismiss, discriminate, or penalize workers for reporting hazards, accidents, or exercising their OSH rights.#7 You have a right to Compensation for Work-Related Injury or Illness. If you get injured or become sick due to work, you are entitled to medical care, sick leave, and compensation benefits under the Employees’ Compensation Program.#8 There should be a Reporting and Recording of Accidents. Employers must record and report all workplace accidents, injuries, and illnesses to DOLE.#9 You should have Access to First Aid and Emergency Facilities. Workplaces must be equipped with first aid kits, trained first-aiders, and emergency medical facilities.#10 Take those free Annual Check-ups.  On hiring, employees undergo health clearance, and then should have annual check-ups, even emergency medical exams, especially for hazardous jobs – all for free.

One that left me terrified was the report that as the quake was happening, employees were being forced to take calls.

One that left me terrified was the report that as the quake was happening, employees were being forced to take calls.