The United BPO Workers of the Philippines (UNITED BPO) has welcomed the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council’s (NTIPC) approval of an Ad Hoc BPO Subcommittee, describing it as a landmark step toward institutionalizing dialogue on labor, workplace safety, and employment concerns in the country’s business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

The resolution, approved by the NTIPC on July 16, establishes a dedicated tripartite body that will serve as a venue for continuous discussions among government, employers, and workers on issues affecting the BPO sector.

The subcommittee is tasked to address concerns involving freedom of association, collective bargaining, occupational safety and health (OSH), workforce adjustments, technological developments, productivity, and other emerging labor issues.

While UNITED BPO reiterated that the proposed Magna Carta of BPO Workers remains its long-term legislative priority, the coalition said the newly created body provides an immediate platform to pursue reforms benefiting millions of BPO employees nationwide.

“The millions of BPO workers in the Philippines have powered this industry, and this committee is an important step towards making sure they have their fair share in its success and a voice in its future,” said Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union.

“This permanent seat at the table is the result of years of organizing, and we’ll keep standing with workers as they continue pushing for the Magna Carta of BPO Workers,” she added.

Roland De La Cruz, president of UNI Global Union-Philippine Liaison Council (UNI-PLC) and one of UNITED BPO’s co-convenors, said the subcommittee should immediately begin crafting concrete policies that directly protect workers.

“We are not going to wait for a bill to pass before we start protecting our people,” he said.

De La Cruz urged the body to prioritize mandatory health benefits, hazard-responsive occupational safety programs, and clear guidelines on the ethical use of artificial intelligence that would protect jobs rather than replace workers.

The creation of the subcommittee was also backed by Jesus Villamor and Angelita Senorin of the LIKHA Federation, both UNI-PLC affiliates and UNITED BPO co-convenors, along with UNI-PLC General Secretary and NUBE-IFO President Rainier Cruz, who helped lobby for the body’s establishment.

Labor leaders outside Metro Manila likewise welcomed the initiative, saying it would strengthen labor representation in key BPO hubs across the country.

National Federation of Labor General Secretary Atty. Rouland Sitoy, a member of the Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Council in Central Visayas, said the new mechanism would help address regional labor issues, including security of tenure and occupational safety.

“The establishment of this subcommittee gives us the institutional teeth to bridge local enforcement gaps,” he said.

Rank-and-file BPO employees also expressed optimism that the body would finally provide workers with a direct voice in policymaking.

Livy Bensi, a Cebu-based BPO employee, said workers have long lacked an independent platform to raise concerns over workload, night shifts, and constantly changing performance metrics.

“Ngayong may subcommittee na, may pag-asa na kaming mailatag ang totoong kalagayan namin nang hindi natatakot na mapag-initan o matanggal,” Bensi said.

Andrew Buyco, a Makati-based BPO worker with 18 years of industry experience, described the development as a long-awaited opportunity for employees to participate in decisions affecting their welfare.

UNITED BPO said it would actively participate in the subcommittee’s deliberations to ensure balanced representation and push for policies that promote fair, safe, and dignified working conditions throughout the Philippine BPO industry.IMT