Improve salaries for BPO workers
The Issue
AFFECTED PARTY
I haven been working in the BPO industry in Jamaica for the past three years and I have seen many flaws in this system we call 9 to 5, I feel that employees of these BPO companies deserve more pay . I know I might lose my job after my employer see this but I always hear this saying if you dont stand for something, you will fall for nothing so am standing up for my fellow colleagues that works in the BPO industry and pleading to the government of Jamaica to review some of these BPO companies contract they offer to their employees I believe every one thats work within the BPO industry whether at a entry level or skilled worker we should be treated fairly as employees and not just giving us whats left that we can barely survive from.
In terms of competitiveness, Jamaica is second to none, and the reason for this is that there are some companies, especially on the Montego Bay Free Zone who are paying their agents less than US$2 per hour (in other countries, agents are working US$4 an hour) and the incentive structure is set up in such a way that less than half of the agents in the company is able to really meet it. And, if they do meet it, there are certain procedures in place that will cause them to lose some of that money they have worked so hard to get.
INCENTIVE DEDUCTIONS
Take, for instance, a company that deducts certain amount of money from the incentive an agent makes. Personally, I have experienced this, wherein I started working with a base pay of $200 and I was told that over a period of time, this would increase. Until the time I left, no increase was done, and to make matters worse, when I went over my break and lunch by just a minute, $750 was deducted.
My heart aches for the agents who are still at the company I was briefly employed to because I know what they are going through. My main reason, though, for writing this letter is to highlight something that I overheard some persons talking about. Based on my understanding, a co-worker of theirs went on vacation and was not paid for his vacation time. When he went to the account department, it caused an uproar because the employee was adamant that he wanted his money before the next pay period. If an employee is entitled to paid leave, why not pay the individual?
This brings into focus one of the many atrocities that some free zone workers have to face. Many persons are doing their jobs and the 'Big Man' is getting all the praise. Something has to be done. There needs to be a set rate at which workers should be paid, and a body available that will make periodic reviews. In addition, there needs to be a body that represents these workers that they can go to when various issues arise.
As we go forward into 2022 and see more BPO companies come on board, I do hope that there will be changes in the way agents are treated.
M.CALAME
M. HIGGINS
Petition Closed
The Issue
AFFECTED PARTY
I haven been working in the BPO industry in Jamaica for the past three years and I have seen many flaws in this system we call 9 to 5, I feel that employees of these BPO companies deserve more pay . I know I might lose my job after my employer see this but I always hear this saying if you dont stand for something, you will fall for nothing so am standing up for my fellow colleagues that works in the BPO industry and pleading to the government of Jamaica to review some of these BPO companies contract they offer to their employees I believe every one thats work within the BPO industry whether at a entry level or skilled worker we should be treated fairly as employees and not just giving us whats left that we can barely survive from.
In terms of competitiveness, Jamaica is second to none, and the reason for this is that there are some companies, especially on the Montego Bay Free Zone who are paying their agents less than US$2 per hour (in other countries, agents are working US$4 an hour) and the incentive structure is set up in such a way that less than half of the agents in the company is able to really meet it. And, if they do meet it, there are certain procedures in place that will cause them to lose some of that money they have worked so hard to get.
INCENTIVE DEDUCTIONS
Take, for instance, a company that deducts certain amount of money from the incentive an agent makes. Personally, I have experienced this, wherein I started working with a base pay of $200 and I was told that over a period of time, this would increase. Until the time I left, no increase was done, and to make matters worse, when I went over my break and lunch by just a minute, $750 was deducted.
My heart aches for the agents who are still at the company I was briefly employed to because I know what they are going through. My main reason, though, for writing this letter is to highlight something that I overheard some persons talking about. Based on my understanding, a co-worker of theirs went on vacation and was not paid for his vacation time. When he went to the account department, it caused an uproar because the employee was adamant that he wanted his money before the next pay period. If an employee is entitled to paid leave, why not pay the individual?
This brings into focus one of the many atrocities that some free zone workers have to face. Many persons are doing their jobs and the 'Big Man' is getting all the praise. Something has to be done. There needs to be a set rate at which workers should be paid, and a body available that will make periodic reviews. In addition, there needs to be a body that represents these workers that they can go to when various issues arise.
As we go forward into 2022 and see more BPO companies come on board, I do hope that there will be changes in the way agents are treated.
M.CALAME
M. HIGGINS
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on 10 February 2021