Call Center industry jittery over Duterte’s anti-US stance

Global Business

The Philippines’ multi-billion dollar business process outsourcing industry is on its toes. And it’s not just because of Donald Trump’s impending presidency.

The country’s president, Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-US rhetoric, is making some in the industry nervous.

CCTV’s Barnaby Lo reports the story.

By some estimates, the Philippines’ outsourcing industry could generate as much as $25 billion in revenues by the end of this year, and $55 billion by 2020. This projection, however, was made before Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-U.S. tirades brought an air of uncertainty to ties between the Philippines and the United States.

Russel says Duterte comments causing worries in business communities. “We will recover, I assure you,” said Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine President.

It’s that kind of rhetoric that has triggered concerns among those in the call center industry. Around three quarters of their clients are American. The fear is that those planning to invest could now be having second thoughts. Rank and file employees are worried they’d be the first ones to suffer.

But in a statement e-mailed to CCTV, the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines said there is no reason for companies to be concerned, adding that President Duterte’s statements have not translated into policy changes.

The bigger concern, according to another industry association, is incoming US President Donald Trump’s economic policy, which aims to bring jobs back to America.