Employees of business process outsourcing companies getting exposed to COVID-19 has always been a concern since the pandemic kicked in. Roughly 6 months later, it looks like companies are still struggling to provide a safe working environment for their workers.
There are at least 365 BPO companies in the Philippines, according to Cabalona. One of the biggest outbreaks BIEN Pilipinas recorded was in a BPO company in Pasay, where at least 102 workers tested positive. An Catherine’s boyfriend tested positive on August 18, just 3 weeks before she got her own results. By the time Catherine found out she was also infected, her boyfriend had already passed away. He died on August 25.Sa akin po ‘yung pinakamabigat po yung hindi ko sya napuntahan sa ospital noong mga panahon na ‘yun nga…She had to do home quarantine while her boyfriend was hospitalized. She was asymptomatic.
Since Carlo is still a trainee, he didn't have the private health insurance provided by the company yet. Fortunately, his PhilHealth membership covered his quarantine expenses. He was also able to get tested for free, thanks to the mass testing conducted by his local government unit. Apart from the work setting, Cabalona said that the working environment in which BPO employees move also poses risks that may make them more vulnerable to COVID-19. In fact, aon call center agents in India said that BPO workers are “exposed to a volley of problems” concerning physical, mental, and social health.