Employees of Wipro Philippines in Cebu recently filed complaints against the company for multiple violations of their labor rights. With the support of the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN)-Cebu, they faced the company’s representatives in a meeting mediated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 7 on December 1.

The large number of employees who attended the meeting overflowed outside the Cebu City DOLE office. BIEN-Cebu expressed disappointment as DOLE Region 7 failed in its promise to provide a larger venue for the meeting. The employees held a silent protest concurrent with the dialogue.

The meeting and dialogue came after Wipro Cebu employees and BIEN-Cebu filed a complaint with DOLE Region 7 on November 26. They mainly complain about Wipro Cebu’s unreasonable plan to place 400 employees on “floating status” starting December 15.

Many of the employees who would face “floating status” had been with the company for more than six years. The company justified its decision by claiming these employees had “poor performance,” despite some of them being among the most dedicated workers. They were also denied separation pay.

Employees also reported cases of withheld benefits, including maternity pay, and being forced to work overtime without pay.

After the meeting, BIEN-Cebu condemned Wipro Cebu for negotiating in bad faith with its employees. The company representatives present in the talks claimed they lacked the authority to make decisions or commitments to employees, despite holding high positions in Wipro Philippines. The representatives also lied and changed their statements from their previous promises to employees.

“We condemn the management’s insincerity in dialogue,” BIEN-Cebu stated. It added that the company should stop deceiving its employees repeatedly.

BPO companies’ anti-worker policies were exposed in November after they insisted to make employees work despite strong earthquakes, typhoons, and flooding that struck Cebu. Since then, BIEN-Cebu has continuously received reports of further labor rights violations in the BPO industry.

According to BIEN-Cebu, it is committed to support BPO employees in their fight for better working conditions in the industry. “We call on BPO employees to speak out against injustice, denial of rights, and to come together and collectively struggle for our welfare,” the group said.