PH BPOs seek WFH extension
The Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry is requesting an extension of their work-from-home arrangements till September following the government’s April 1 deadline.
IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) Jack Madrid said that it is not easy to transition back to the office after two years of working from home.
He added that it would be like moving “basically [more than] 1 million employees from their homes so suddenly.”
Government guidelines placed earlier in the pandemic allowed the BPO industry to keep its tax breaks while having up to 90% of its employees work from home.
However, the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) said that this regulation will only last till March.
Working from home has helped the industry thrive despite persistent lockdowns.
Last year, the sector’s workforce grew further by eight per cent and added 100,000 new jobs in the country. Revenues also increased by around 12% to $28.8 billion.
The IBPAP president stated that they have discovered that the industry can work at their homes without sacrificing productivity and customer satisfaction ratings.
“I think we did not lose any business. In fact, we grew,” Madrid concluded.
