MANILA — The BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN) on Sunday called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to take immediate action following a fire at the Alorica-MOA (3 ECOM) site on December 21, warning that management’s “business as usual” approach is putting workers’ lives at risk.

Reports indicate that the fire broke out on the 6th floor around 9:30 PM. Workers in the 14th-floor sleeping quarters were reportedly not alerted by fire alarms, which were inaudible, but instead by colleagues. Despite the absence of an official BFP Fire Safety Clearance, Alorica management ordered employees to return to the site on December 22, just one day after the incident.

“We are seeing a chilling repetition of history. In 2017, 37 BPO workers and one security guard perished in the NCCC Mall fire because of faulty wiring and a lack of proper safety protocols. Today, Alorica is forcing agents back into a building that still reeks of toxic burnt rubber, without any transparent assurance that the electrical systems are safe,” said Mylene Cabalona, National President of BIEN.

Workers reported dizziness and ear and nose pain due to lingering smoke. BIEN alleged that management dismissed health concerns as “nag-iinarte” (acting out) instead of providing medical support.

“Safety is a fundamental right, not a suggestion. The fact that Alorica is prioritizing ‘Critical Working Day’ metrics over the respiratory health of employees, especially those with pre-existing conditions like asthma, is a blatant violation of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Law,” said Ron Zarate, BIEN OSH Officer.

BIEN has put forward several demands:

1. Immediate spot inspection – DOLE should conduct an unannounced inspection of the Alorica 3 ECOM site, with BIEN participation to protect employees from retaliation.
2. Transparency and clearance – Immediate release of the BFP Investigation Report and Fire Safety Clearance; work should remain suspended and considered paid leave until safety is verified.
3. Medical and commuter support – Full coverage of medical expenses and transportation allowance for affected workers relocated to other sites.
4. Accountability for alarm failure – Investigation into why fire alarms failed in the sleeping quarters.

“The silence from DOLE and Alorica’s top executives is deafening,” Cabalona said. “We will not let this incident be swept under the rug while our fellow BPO workers breathe in toxins for the sake of profit.”