‘Gig economy’ to rise after ECQ

CEBU, Philippines —  More Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies are expected to hire more people after the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), as workers are seen to shift towards the “gig economy”.

The work-from-home (WFH) set up will result to workers resigning from their office work, as they are discovering opportunities to make money while at the comforts of their homes, said BPO operator Michael Cubos.

According to Cubos, the effect of WFH arrangement may threaten big outsourcing companies to look for workers who are willing to accept regular employment, while freelancing is now offering attractive options for professionals.

Cubos believes that after the ECQ, more BPO employees who are now working in their homes may opt to resign and look for freelancing jobs online, to maintain the comfort while earning more.

The gig economy is also expected to rival the BPO industry in terms of manpower. Because of this, Cubos said more BPO companies will announce mass hiring, even accepting those people who clearly need intensive training to handle outsourcing jobs.

Good talents, on the other hand make money by doing jobs for multiple employers online.

Cubos projected that immediately after ECQ, and when things are back to normal, the BPO sector may experience a vacuum, or manpower shortage, as people will opt not to go back to an office working environment or 8-hour setup.

After COVID-19, Cebu will see the rise of the gig economy. This will be led by the former BPO workers who will decide to resign, and rather earn a living under the gig economy.

A gig economy is a free market system in which temporary positions are common and organizations contract with independent workers for short-term engagements.

A gig economy undermines the traditional economy of full-time workers who rarely change positions and instead focus on a lifetime career.

The term "gig" is a slang word meaning "a job for a specified period of time" and is typically used in referring to musicians. Locally, gig also referred as “raket” in Cebuano slang.