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One could understand Acting Mayor Michael Rama?s distress about a study done by the UP-Population Institute which disclosed that call center agents were at high risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS.
Cebu is the biggest haven of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies outside of Metro Manila. The growth of the BPO industry in general started in 2004 and spurted into one of the most profitable industries to survive the economic crisis.
About 50,000 people in Cebu ? mostly young, single college-educated talents are employed in this global enterprise.
Coincidentally, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is scheduled to visit Cebu today to inaugurate another major call center.
Rama reacted with alarm and called for a meeting with health officials to discuss the findings.
He said it was ?unfair? to virtually label call center agents as promiscuous, discouraging parents from letting their children find jobs in BPO centers.
We don?t expect a stampede of employees leaving their well-paid BPO jobs. Call centers continue to aggressively recruit youngbloods with good English communication skills and dangle tempting compensation packages and P10,000 signing bonuses.
It would be a pity if Rama and other officials underestimate the full value of the study.
This is the first scientific study we?ve seen by a reputable establishment outside the BPO industry that looks into the lifestyle and health risks of call center agents in Cebu.
Rama said the UP-PI study should have been worded carefully in order not to offend or discourage BPOs.
That?s not the lookout of the study, however, which profiles 929 respondents in Cebu and Metro Manila.
It?s findings will help companies craft policies to address risky behavior and workplace cultures, something the public knows of based on isolated stories.
In the study, the average of a call center agent is 23. Other highlights worth weighing:
* Cebu call center workers have lower salary than their Metro Manila counterparts but they receive more benefits;
* More call center workers from Cebu compared to NCR reported having experienced health problems associated with work;
* Among Cebu call center workers, there is lower prevalence of smoking and drinking but a higher proportion tried using drugs, specifically shabu;
* Call centers workers have higher income, work benefits than workers from other industries. However they face higher work-related health risks -- sleep patterns and diet
* There is a higher incidence of smoking and drinking among call cnter workers.
These are trends worth addressing with a firmer hand, and consideration for the welfare of young professionals.
