Senators push to keep call center jobs in U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES — Senate Democrats have introduced the United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act, aiming to discourage businesses from relocating call center operations overseas.
The United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act represents a concerted effort by Senate Democrats to retain call center jobs within the country and protect consumer data.
The bill aims to bolster job security and data privacy by imposing penalties on companies that offshore these operations and providing customers with the option to interact with U.S.-based call centers.
Key provisions
The proposed legislation includes several key measures:
- Notification requirement. Companies planning to move call center operations overseas must notify the Department of Labor at least 120 days in advance. Failure to comply could result in fines of $10,000 per day.
- Federal grants and contracts. Businesses that relocate call centers abroad would be ineligible for federal grants and contracts.
- Customer choice. Companies must disclose the location of their call centers and allow customers to request transfer to a U.S.-based call center.
Protecting jobs and data
The bill aims to address two primary concerns: job protection and data security. Senator Sherrod Brown emphasized the importance of keeping call center data within the U.S. to safeguard it from foreign control.
“Data that passes through overseas call centers could come under the control of foreign companies and governments, but keeping call center data in the U.S. helps protect it,” Brown stated.
Senator Bob Casey highlighted the economic impact of call center closures and downsizing, particularly in sectors like banking, finance, and insurance.
“Call center closures and downsizing have occurred in all regions and across industries, with significant losses occurring in the banking, finance, and insurance sectors,” Casey said in a prepared statement.
Legislative support
The bill garnered support from fourteen Democratic and Independent senators who have signed on as co-sponsors. This is not the first attempt to pass such legislation. Senator Casey previously introduced a similar bill in 2017, which did not advance to a vote.
