Call Center Agents and HIV

[pioneer]

Davao City Councilor Edgar Ibuyan Sr. is tackling a proposal requiring call centers in the city to provide special quarters for its agents as reports say the agents have become the most vulnerable sector getting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Ibuyan said the proposal by fellow city councilor Tessie Maranon is being thoroughly discussed by his committee on labor in view of hundreds of workers employed by sprouting call centers here.

Earlier reports said call center workers are late night workers and go to bars after calling work off. Their lifestyle exposes them to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) infliction.

Ibuyan said some of the firm opposed the requirement claiming limited space for the special quarters, which would serve as sleeping rooms for agents’ call off work at wee hours.

But Ibuyan said his committee is continuing studies on the proposal of Maranon, who chairs the committee on information technology.

Ibuyan earlier authored a city ordinance requiring malls and supermarkets to provide seats for salesgirls.

The landmark legislation was widely lauded here by women’s groups for being gender sensitive.

The city councilor said requiring call centers to have special quarters for late-night workers would help stop spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases in the city. - PNA