SPi Global issued a statement Friday to clarify its stand regarding the complaints raised by dismissed employees who staged a brief mini-rally early this week against the said business process outsourcing firm.
Suzanne Bascara, site director of SPi Global in Dumaguete City, said in the press statement that “the protest was staged due to the company’s dismissal of several of its employees for multiple instances of call avoidance”.
According to Bascara, “call avoidance is the deliberate non-fulfillment of a call center agent’s core function to address customers’ concerns and inquiries”.
“This misconduct relating to an agent’s duty is serious and constitutes a ground for dismissal from employment”.
The employees were dismissed only after a thorough investigation and with requirements for due process and labor laws complied with, the statement said.
SPi Global also denied allegations the “dismissals were implemented to avoid payment of benefits or to facilitate contractual employment”.
The firm announced it will continue to make representations with the National Labor Relations Commission, “the appropriate venue” hearing the grievances of the affected workers.
Last Monday, a group of about 15 people carrying placards picketed at the vicinity of SPi Global in Barangay Bagacay, allegedly without a mayor’s permit although they voluntarily dispersed afterwards, according to Sr. Supt. Harris Fama, Negros Oriental OIC provincial police director.
Activist groups Anakpawis and Kabataan joined the protest action and in a press release slammed the SPi Global for the alleged illegal dismissals.
The BPO, however, in its statement, stressed that they believe that employees are their best asset and any form of attrition would diminish their value.
The firm also emphasized that they cannot “condone actions that go against our core values of integrity, accountability”.
“We need to stay true to our core values which have enabled us to be recognized as a global player, strategic partner to our clients, and employer of choice providing world-class jobs and opportunities to employees”.
“We are committed to taking care of our existing 5,000 employees in Dumaguete and creating more growth opportunities for them as we look at our future expansion plans”, SPi Global announced in its press statement. (PNA)
