The city government has threatened to close down call centers and other business process outsourcing (BPO) companies that cannot comply with the order of providing accommodation or shuttle service to their workers or allow them to work at home.
In Executive Order 20 which was issued Monday, Mayor Sara Duterte emphasized that BPO companies need to comply with Memorandum 20-08 of the Department of Trade or they must shut down their operations.
Under the memorandum, BPO companies are required to go into skeletal workforce mode to implement social distancing, provide accommodation arrangements to their workers within the place of work and shuttle service; or allow work from home arrangements.
“In a situations like this, they (workers) are like quarantined (if the modes are adopted),” said the mayor.
The City Information Office (CIO) said: “A lean workforce system can be done through a skeletal system, and the work from home scheme so that physical or social distancing is observed.”
The agency said that the companies have been inspected and found complying with the regulations.
Duterte also said each BPO employee must have a personal headset, microphone, and keyboard cover.
The conduct of regular handwashing breaks and disinfection in their establishments must also be followed.
