THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is tightening its grip on erring business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in Central Visayas as it launches a new wave of surprise inspections targeting workplace safety violations.
DOLE-Central Visayas Director Roy Buenafe confirmed that six more BPO firms will undergo occupational safety and health (OSH) inspections in the coming days, following multiple social media reports and formal complaints from employees.
“This is not just routine. We received serious complaints, and we will act on them,” Buenafe said in a statement Tuesday.
“The DOLE is firm in its commitment to protect workers. Safety must never be optional—it is the employer’s responsibility.”
According to the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN-Cebu), workers from at least 10 BPO companies claimed they were forced back to work just hours after the magnitude 6.9 quake struck the province and other Central Visayas areas, even as aftershocks continued and structural inspections had yet to be conducted.
Employees reported being threatened with loss of incentives, suspension, or termination if they refused to return. Others said they were offered double pay but without assurance of safety. Some complained of blocked fire exits and the absence of emergency support or debriefing for traumatized staff, including pregnant workers.
Labor groups said these actions violated the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Law (RA 11058), which gives workers the right to refuse unsafe work.
DOLE-7 issued a rare Work Stoppage Order against a Cebu-based BPO company last week for gross OSH violations that allegedly placed employees at risk.
The company was ordered to suspend all operations until unsafe conditions are corrected and compliance is verified.
Buenafe warned that similar sanctions await other companies found to be endangering their workers.
“We will not hesitate to stop operations if we find clear threats to worker safety,” he stressed.
Under the OSH Law, employees affected by the work stoppage must continue to receive their pay even while operations are suspended.
DOLE also reminded employers that workers may be given temporary alternative or flexible work arrangements during the period.
Aside from the BPO sector, DOLE said it will extend the same scrutiny to other industries in the region. “Worker safety cuts across all sectors,” Buenafe said. “If companies cannot guarantee it, they have no business operating.”
