MANILA — Business process outsourcing (BPO) workers have called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to enforce worker safety measures amid Super Typhoon Uwan, citing reports that some companies are continuing “business-as-usual” operations despite dangerous weather conditions.

In an open letter addressed to DOLE, workers from multiple BPO firms highlighted inconsistent responses by employers during the typhoon. Some companies, such as Trip.Com and Alldigitech in Taguig, have allowed temporary work-from-home arrangements. Others, like TDCX Philippines and ProbeCX, have provided allowances, shuttle services, or meals but reportedly continue to penalize employees who refuse to report for on-site duty.

In an email to Republika News, TDCX Group Marketing and Communications Manager Sharmaine Lau clarified that the open letter contained “incorrect” information.

She belied the allegations and explained that “absences due to unsafe travel or family safety concerns are not subject to disciplinary action, and employees’ incentive eligibility is maintained.”

Meanwhile, several companies—including Cognizant, Accenture in Cebu, Enshored, and Concentrix—have reportedly required workers to report on-site without providing safety accommodations.

“The few considerations that companies extend are not acts of compassion. These are token measures meant to sustain business continuity at the expense of workers’ safety,” the letter from BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN) Philippines read.

The workers also criticized the government for its inaction, noting that similar violations were reported during Typhoon Tino but no response or update from DOLE had been received. They urged immediate enforcement of labor regulations to ensure that employees are not punished, penalized, or forced to use leave credits for prioritizing their safety.

The letter concluded with a call for BPO companies to suspend work and grant emergency leave with pay, stressing that employees are the backbone of their operations and that “our safety is not negotiable.”

The group’s appeal highlights the broader challenges faced by Filipino workers during natural disasters, particularly amid repeated typhoons that continue to affect the country’s major business hubs.