Call center workers are considering mass resignation following a government order for them to physically report for duty, the Alliance of Call Center Workers (ACCW) revealed on Thursday.
The group said “a significant number of call center workers were willing to resign due to the order.
Emman David, a representative of the ACCW, said in a virtual press conference that the resignation threats were not a form of protest to the government’s decision, but rather an option not to be inconvenienced by the return to the workplace directive.
David pointed out that during the pandemic when work from home (WFH) arrangements took effect, numerous call center workers went back to the provinces. With the return to work order, these workers would find it difficult to go back to the metropolis and rent living quarters.
“It’s more of a sign of inconvenience [that you’d] rather take the chance of working elsewhere than in physical offices,” he added.
The Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) rejected requests to extend remote work arrangements beyond March 31, and workers should return to their respective offices starting April 1.
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said it would appeal the FIRB’s decision.
The Department of Finance (DOF), the parent agency of the FIRB, said IT-BPO (information technology-business processing outsourcing) companies in economic zones can opt to stay with the WFH setup as they are given freedom to determine their working arrangements, but risk losing their tax incentives such as income tax holidays and a 5 percent tax on gross income earned.
According to David, IT-BPO firms should assess the cost of losing tax benefits versus losing a considerable number of staff.
Nonetheless, David said that some firms have allowed their workers to continue with the WFH setup.
Without specifically identifying the companies, ACCW’s Lara Melencio said there were at least four to five IT-BPO firms that opted to forego their tax perks in favor of allowing their workers to continue working from home.
“We urge the Department of Finance, mainly FIRB, to reassess their goals and how it will affect the estimated 1.3 million Filipinos when it comes to this decision,” she said.
“It’s inhumane how we are being treated as mere numbers that provide results. We are appealing to [you to] give us enough time for transition and give us the choice to either work from home or work at the office,” Melencio said.
