Date:17/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/02/17/stories/2005021700750700.htm

Back `Welfare measures for call centre workers better in India'

Our Bureau

Chennai , Feb. 16

THE Communication Workers of America (CWA), Chicago, is open to outsourcing, and has come to India with an open mind to study working conditions in India for such "white-collared professionals," according to Mr Steve Tisza, President, CWA.

The CWA represents about seven lakh men and women employed in telecom, broadcasting and television services, journalism, publishing and electronics in the US.

Addressing a gathering of human resources professionals on Global Trends in Labour Values here, Mr Tisza, however, cautioned India IT vendors of possible US exploitation of outsourcing options for unduly increasing their bottom line revenues by cutting labour costs.

A press release on deliberations of the meeting was issued by the IT Professionals' Forum.

"We go back with satisfaction that infrastructure here compares with the best in the US. So far all our information about outsourcing and its issues has been from the media. This (visit) has been an eye-opener where we visited and understood the Indian call centre and IT industry hands on," he was quoted in the release.

The delegation, which is visiting call centres and IT firms in Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, said that the system was much better in India. "We are very impressed by the welfare measure for workers here. This includes pick up and drop for employees and healthcare benefits. In the US, about 8 per cent of people in call centres report sick every day. Considering the nature of work at call centres, which is mostly in night hours, health measures are important," Ms Beverly Hicks of CWA said in the release.