BPO firm targets to employ displaced tourism workers

CEBU, Philippines — Call center firm Alorica Inc., has collaborated with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in promoting workplace safety and to address the needs of thousands of displaced tourism workers.

With the goal of supporting those seeking a career change into the BPO sector, Alorica and the DOT, through the initiative of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) in which the former is a member, have come together to mount the DOT x Alorica Job Fair, a virtual event that seeks to attract workers from the tourism and food and beverage industries who may have encountered employment challenges amid the pandemic.

The job fair, which was initially held last August 24, 2021, offered seasonal and permanent BPO employment opportunities.

DOT Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat recognized the country's world-class tourism workforce and underscored the tourism department’s mandate of providing technical assistance to tourism workers affected by the pandemic.

“The Department of Tourism is thankful for the participation of BPO industries in this event, first conducted in September 2020. I am confident that the caliber and values of our tourism workers will be a great asset to your company. Deserving participants will surely gain renewed hope as they slowly rebuild their livelihood and likewise acquire potential career growth,” she said.

Through virtual information session, Alorica hopes to reach many potential candidates to explore opportunities with the company. Meanwhile, for its part, DOLE aims to foster job creation amidst the uncertainties brought about by the pandemic.

According to Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) president Alfred Reyes, hotel staff in particular who lost their jobs, [albeit temporarily] due to slow business, have applied for jobs in call centers, some of them are already hired.

As of February 2021, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) record showed that about 4.2 million Filipinos have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

PSA identified the tourism sector as the most affected industry during the pandemic.