CEBU CITY – With the boom being enjoyed by Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) firms here, an official from the Region 7 office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) is urging said firms to provide extra services to its employees especially those working on night shifts.

DoLE 7 Regional Executive Director Elias Cayanong said because there have been many reports of a number of BPO employees being victimized by thieves either while going home or on their way to work late at night, “I have appealed to BPO owners to provide such extra services like night buses for use by employees.” These buses may be deployed to pick up the BPO employees in particular designated terminals, the DoLE 7 official said.

Cayanong pointed out that providing such night bus service can serve to protect BPO from criminal elements who usually prey on and pounce on their victims during the wee hours when there is minimal police visibility.

“The night busses will be ideal in the IT Park as it is the site of numerous BPO firms, while other firms are also advised to consider the idea,” he said.

A similar situation used to plague the Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) but the problem was minimized after accredited public vehicles were allowed entry inside the MEPZ.

Aside from the provision of night buses, Cayanong also suggested that BPO firms might want to consider providing resting rooms for their employees to rest and relax in while waiting for their work shifts to begin.

“The rest rooms will be of particular good use by employees from far-flung areas,” said Cayanong.
Naturally, he said, these suggestions are all subject for further discussions with BPO firms operating in Cebu.

Still, Cayanong said he has already attended some meetings with BPO companies where his suggestions were brought up and discussed. According to the DoLE 7 official, in these meetings, the BPO managers were positively responsive, with many of them saying the added services could very well form part of their corporate social responsibility obligations.

In Cebu City, there are about 50 BPO firms in Cebu City and most of these are located within the IT Park in the Lahug area.