Senator Raffy Tulfo on Wednesday demanded legal action against several business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in Cebu that allegedly forced employees to continue working during and after the recent 6.9-magnitude earthquake.
Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Labor, said some firms endangered workers by prioritizing profit over safety as aftershocks continued to hit the province.
“Instead of sending their employees home and ensuring their safety, they prioritized their profits and said, ‘business is business.’ I want cases filed against these BPOs,” he said.
During a labor hearing, Tulfo presented a video showing one company blocking emergency exits to prevent employees from evacuating to safer areas.
He said another firm reportedly required its workers to immediately return to their desks after the quake, ignoring safety risks.
Such actions, according to him, violated Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Labor Advisory No. 17, Series of 2022, which directs employers to prioritize workers’ safety during calamities. The advisory also prohibits penalizing employees unable to report to work due to safety threats.
Tulfo also cited DOLE Department Order No. 252, Series of 2025, which protects employees’ right to refuse work without fear of punishment if there is imminent danger in the workplace.
DOLE Region VII Director Roy Buenafe said the agency issued work stoppage orders against six BPO firms, including Iploy OPC, Optum Global Solutions, EXL Services, Alorica, Gagfa IT Tower, and Teleperformance IT Park Cebu.
Buenafe said two of the companies have already complied with occupational safety and health requirements. He added that inspection authorities will also review 23 other BPO companies in Cebu for possible violations.
Tulfo vowed to push for the passage of measures such as the Calamity Pay and Hazard Pay bills to provide additional compensation to workers affected by natural disasters. He also renewed calls for the approval of his proposed Anti-Abuse of Pakyawan Act and Wage Theft Prevention Act to curb long-standing labor exploitation
