Palace assures call center layoffs ‘unlikely’ |
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MANILA — The business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, particularly call centers, is
unlikely to be adversely affected by the global economic slowdown even with the prospect of
a looming recession in the United States, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said today.
Dureza said that because of its economic reforms, the Philippines has been least affected by the global economic debacle, and a committed foresight will continue to shield the country from the bad effects of the global crises slowdown, Dureza said. In a media briefing in Malacanang, Dureza stressed that the possibility of mass lay-offs in call centers in the country is unlikely at this time.“There is no projection that we will be having a mass lay-off of call center employees in the Philippines,” Dureza said. Dureza added that the global economic slowdown could even benefit the Philippines as affected countries might find it more productive and profitable to establish and operate call centers here. As it is, Dureza said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has directed her economic managers to come up with a contingency plan in case the current global economic and financial situation worsens into a possible recession. The contingency plan includes programs spelled out under the proposed P1.4 trillion 2009 national budget that are to mitigate the possible adverse effects of the global food, fuel and financial crises. The contingency plan also covers increased allotments for social security, welfare and employment, scholarship and better educational services. Also included, Dureza said, are projects for livelihood and retraining for returning overseas workers, and the proposed increase in the deposit insurance coverage of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) to P1 million that will protect depositors and boast their confidence in the banking system. “So that is the foresight that the government is having,” Dureza said http://www.philfortune.com/index.php?cat_id=21&news=1989 |