BPO Industry Employees Network
(BIEN)
The Philippines
Over 1.8 million people in the Philippines are employed in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, providing call centre and digital services to some of the biggest multinationals in the world. Despite being a multi-billion dollar industry, workers in the BPO sector are poorly paid, they work gruelling hours, and their jobs are insecure.
BIEN (BPO Industry Employees Network) is the lone voice for workers in the sector, advocating for the safe conditions, job security and decent pay that BPO workers deserve. Supported by UnionAID, BIEN fearlessly organise BPO workers into local chapters, run campaigns, educate people on workers’ rights, and provide paralegal support to those unjustly treated.
Following a tragic building fire in 2016 that killed 36 BPO workers, BIEN was part of an alliance that successfully campaigned for stricter health and safety laws, as well as compensation for families of the deceased. BIEN won improved job security law changes in the city of Bagiuo for BPO workers and throughout Covid-19 has exposed unsafe conditions forced upon workers by some of the world’s biggest companies.
UnionAID partnered with BIEN to provide them with the resources they need to advocate for better working conditions, exercise their right to freedom of association, and ensure secure and decent jobs for BPO workers in the Philippines.
Past Projects
Building power through crisis: BIEN’s fight continues (2020-2023)
Despite ongoing political repression and pandemic challenges, BIEN strengthened its organising and advocacy for BPO workers’ rights across the Philippines.
Fighting back for security: BIEN’s struggle through crisis (2018-2020)
During a period of increasing political repression and the onset of COVID-19, BIEN expanded its fight for BPO workers’ rights,
Building worker power in Philippines’ call centres (2017-2018)
The BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN), established as a voice for Philippines’ call centre workers, sought to intensify organising across
When we unite, we win. As a Kiwi Solidarity member, you’ll join our growing community of New Zealanders who are backing workers and their whānau across the Asia-Pacific to fight back against exploitation and build strong, independent unions.
Together, we put resources directly in the hands of local union partners who know exactly what their communities need. From garment workers in Fiji demanding better wages and conditions to fishing crews in Indonesia organising against forced labour – our solidarity makes their collective action possible.
Stories from BIEN
Digital workers unite to protect rights as AI threatens jobs
A new coalition of digital workers has formed in the Philippines to address growing concerns about artificial intelligence’s impact on
Fight Back Together: Global solidarity as Aotearoa unites against workers’ rights attacks
Today, workers across Aotearoa New Zealand are coming together in a nationwide hui organised by the New Zealand Council of
Compensation won for call centre workers in Philippines
A number of call centre workers have been compensated up to $NZ 11,000 for illegal job terminations, thanks to the
UnionAID supports democratic, worker-led organisations that help empower working people to improve their work and livelihoods through collective action.
Find out more about what we do and how to get involved here or become a Kiwi Solidarity Member now.
