Jamaican BPOs to reduce remote workers
KINGSTON, JAMAICA — Several Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) operators plan to reduce their remote workers from 50% to 30% in compliance with an upcoming government mandate.
In a new policy, the Jamaican Government set a permanent 70-30 staff ratio for the outsourcing industry — 70% on-site and 30% remote — by the end of 2023 in light of productivity concerns.
According to The Gleaner, the regulation was fashioned by a high-level technical committee, which included key regulatory services, in a move by the Global Services Association of Jamaica (GSAJ) to develop operating standards for a sustainable outsourcing industry.
GSAJ President Anand Biradar added, “Work from the office is better than working from home for training purposes because it is very hard to train people remotely and bring them up the proficiency curve.”
Regional outsourcing firm itel, for example, has already ordered its entire workforce to return to the office. But, the firm also indicated that a structure would be implemented to allow some employees performing well remotely to continue working from home.
“We are not eliminating work-from-home, but it’s time to bring productivity back to where it was pre-pandemic to ensure that Jamaica remains a premier outsourcing destination and that itel excels for its clients,” said itel CEO Yoni Epstein.
