Philippines BPO workers demand higher wages, AI safeguards
QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES — Workers in the Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, led by the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN), rallied ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address 2025, demanding a PHP36,000 (US$627.73) entry-level wage and protections against AI-driven job losses.
Sector calls for wage reform to match living costs
BPO employees in the Philippines face stagnant wages, with entry-level pay often below PHP30,000 (US$523.11)—far short of the PHP1,200 (US$20.92) daily living wage needed in Metro Manila.
BIEN Philippines highlighted this disparity during their State of the BPO Address (SOBWA), urging the immediate passage of a wage hike and revisiting Marcos’ unfulfilled 2022 pledge to prioritize a Magna Carta for BPO Workers.
The group criticized the industry’s “cost-effective” labor model, noting exclusion from the recent PHP50 (US$0.87) NCR wage increase.
Secretary-General Renso Bajala emphasized that while the sector earns $38 billion annually, workers remain overworked and undercompensated, with disaster policies forcing them to report during typhoons without emergency pay.
Push to safeguard jobs from unregulated AI adoption
BPO employees warned of unchecked AI adoption, citing job displacement, deskilling, and workplace surveillance as companies integrate unregulated automation tools.
BIEN plans to file an AI regulation bill in October during Customer Service Week, aiming to safeguard freelancers and traditional roles.
Simultaneously, workers launched a petition they call “Protect BPO Workers During Disasters: Declare Imminent Danger Now!” demanding disaster protections, citing life-threatening commutes during floods.
The petition is addressed to President Marcos Jr. and Labor Secretary Laguesma, lamenting policies that prioritize productivity over security.
These initiatives were supported by Kabataan Party-list allies, who aligned with the general criticism of United States trade agreements that imposed 19% tariffs on Philippine exports and favored American imports.
Marcos cites infrastructure boost for Philippine BPO industry
Following these pre-SONA protests, President Marcos’ focus during his address is in a different direction, highlighting the completion of the National Fiber Backbone Project’s first three phases, which have expanded WiFi sites from 4,000 to 19,000 since 2022.
It will boost the BPO industry in the Philippines, ensuring quicker and more reliable online connectivity—the primary determinant in maintaining the Philippines’ nominal competitiveness in global outsourcing.
It may be an infrastructural leap that enables remote working, attracts more investment, and produces high-quality digital jobs.
While Marcos touts the National Fiber Backbone’s boost to BPO competitiveness, workers demand fair wages and AI protections, highlighting a growing divide between industry growth and labor rights.
