CALL CENTERS, Labor Union-Free?

[LytSlpr]

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Is it true that Labor Unions cannot be organized in Call Centers & Export Processing Zones as one of the perks given to them for investing in the Philippines? What if there are abuses, whom will the employees go to? the company HRD? now that would be a BIG JOKE!

If an employee signed a waiver or a contract, will that waive or supersede the existing labor rights in the constitution?

Any attorneys in the house? Any information on this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[FK]

If there are abuses, employees can still go to DOLE.

[LytSlpr]

If there are abuses, employees can still go to DOLE.

Yup, I am aware of that but I believe having a union is better because the problems can be addressed more promptly & the management will think twice.

It is so ironic that in the U.S. majority of the people are pro-union because it is a right and Americans do exercise their rights. Meanwhile here in the Philippines, they are so afraid of unions. Doesn't it pose a BIG QUESTION, WHY?!

Americans already saved on labor cost by outsourcing and making us Filipinos do the heavy bulk of the most tedious tasks which mind you they never let the Americans do such as letting one person handling almost all departments or lines of business. Moreover, call center management here reads employee emails, giving warnings or eventually terminating employees if employees convene even just 2 employees talking bad but not necessarily against the company even if it is true or indeed happened, politics and managers playing god by promoting the most mediocre agent as long as they are close to them and i thought that the nature of a call center job is performance-based? meaning figures & statistics.

Plus majority of the states in the U.S. finds the non-compete clause illegal. Need I say why? Ironically, call centers here which are run by Americans or have American clients practice it so that they can control and manipulate employee turnover/attrition easily. What could a mere agent spill out?

I know that a lot of people here are poor and need jobs and that our country should be thankful [na lang] because beggars cannot be choosers but that doesn't give them the right to exploit our privacy and human resources.

GENERALLY, Filipinos are cowards. Look at the EDSA 1 & 2, we only act when matters are about to be marooned.

[LytSlpr]

In the center where I used to work for, the agents have to surrender their cellphones. Their reason is that it will affect the agent's quality of work. Â*Even if it does, that is the agent's prerogative and the supervisor's look out to reprimand or punish the agent accordingly. Of course supervisors are not affected so what do they care. Â*There are countless reasons that cellphones SHOULD NOT be surrendered unless it is a SECURITY matter but definitely not for mere QUALITY because it is a very important and private device. When they sent an email regarding this, they were silent on what they will do if they will ever lost a surrendered cellphone.

They always set parameters for the employees but never for the management. Â*The policies and procedures works only one way. Being strict is okay as long as it works both ways, not double-standard.

[FK]

yup I agree with you, having a union is good. Pero bisan pa naay union kong ang management dili mo agree wala gihapon gamit.

mao bitaw mahitabo ng strike.

[poldopunk]

filipinos, abuse this right

[M@rv|n]

filipinos, abuse this right

mostly

[Scalper]

In the center where I used to work for, the agents have to surrender their cellphones. Their reason is that it will affect the agent's quality of work. Even if it does, that is the agent's prerogative and the supervisor's look to reprimand or punish the agent accordingly. Of course supervisors are not affected so what do they care. There are countless reasons that cellphones SHOULD NOT be surrendered unless it is a SECURITY matter but definitely not for mere QUALITY because it is a very important and private device. When they sent an email regarding this, they were silent on what they will do if they will ever lost a surrendered cellphone.

They always set parameters for the employees but never for the management. The policies and procedures works only one way. Being strict is okay as long as it works both ways, not double-standard.

Call centers in the US or any other country do not allow mobile phones inside the center. This is due to security purposes for cc info and for no disturbance to the VOIP lines going to the headset. Another thing also is that if the Service level agreement demands such restrictions the service level management rolled out to service delivery and operations have to implement the policies.

You have no idea yet what how strict call center security is yet, if you have friends in etelecare here in Cebu and most specially those who are in etelecare Manila handling the financial account. They are not allowed to bring in anything to the center and there are 3 dedicated cameras per each agent recording all that happens in a day.

[Scalper]

Is it true that Labor Unions cannot be organized in Call Centers & Export Processing Zones as one of the perks given to them for investing in the Philippines? What if there are abuses, whom will the employees go to? the company HRD? now that would be a BIG JOKE!

If an employee signed a waiver or a contract, will that waive or supersede the existing labor rights in the constitution?

Any attorneys in the house? Any information on this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

yes this is true this is part of any ecozone from Clark to Subic to any IT park. The reason for this is to attract foreign proponents to set up operations in a climate where labor unions are not allowed so they do not have the threat of labor unrest.
The pay back is that the call centers or other proponents pay higher than regular wages to employees, giving them benefits and incentives not offered in other companies. Hence providing a productive work environment based on these plus points.

[LytSlpr]

Is it true that Labor Unions cannot be organized in Call Centers & Export Processing Zones as one of the perks given to them for investing in the Philippines? What if there are abuses, whom will the employees go to? the company HRD? now that would be a BIG JOKE!

If an employee signed a waiver or a contract, will that waive or supersede the existing labor rights in the constitution?

Any attorneys in the house? Any information on this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

yes this is true this is part of any ecozone from Clark to Subic to any IT park. The reason for this is to attract foreign proponents to set up operations in a climate where labor unions are not allowed so they do not have the threat of labor unrest.
The pay back is that the call centers or other proponents pay higher than regular wages to employees, giving them benefits and incentives not offered in other companies. Hence providing a productive work environment based on these plus points.

bottomline is waive your right for higher pay, right? that is so unfortunate.