Narayan AmmachchiThe Philippine government has suspended operations at six business process outsourcing (BPO) firms in Cebu after investigations found they endangered employees during the September earthquake.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which issued the suspension orders, has not disclosed the names of the affected companies, citing concerns over business reputation.
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the eastern coast of Cebu Province on September 30, killing at least 72 people and displacing more than 20,000 residents. In the aftermath, DOLE inspectors found that several BPOs had blocked emergency exits, denied staff permission to evacuate, or penalized employees who refused to continue working during the aftershocks.
According to the department, some companies even ordered staff to return to their workstations shortly after the quake — actions that violated national workplace safety standards.
The suspended BPOs have been directed to address all safety hazards and strengthen their facilities before resuming operations. DOLE reminded all businesses that Philippine law mandates adequate emergency preparedness and disaster response plans.
Officials added that the decision to withhold the companies’ names was made to prevent unnecessary harm to their reputations while investigations continue.
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