Inspection of BPO facilities to be completed by May 4

Daryl Vaz, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation says the inspection of all Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) facilities in the island is to be completed by May 4.

Vaz, who has been selected by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, to head a Task Force that is mandated to prevent another outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the BPO sector as that which occurred at the Alorica Call Centre in Portmore, St. Catherine, says inspections have already started at the BPO facilities that have been exempted from closing their facilities to continue critical services.

All BPO facilities were ordered closed on April 22 for 14 days, but exemptions were given to BPO facilities that provide critical services to vital industries, such as logistics and shipping, and telecommunications and banking.

Vaz told members of the media that the Task Force has developed new inspection and audit protocols; a self-inspection checklist, which has been signed off by all agencies and departments; and a joint inspection operation plan.

“Daily reportswill be submitted by all BPO operators to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, along with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM),” he noted.

As it relates to security and the monitoring of the facilities that have been checked, a protocol has been developed that requires all BPOs to install closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs), and in instances where entities currently have CCTVs, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is to be allowed to access such data.

In the meantime, Mr. Vaz said a little over 20,000 workers in the BPO sector, including 800 who are working remotely, and 9,234, who have been exempted, are still working in the sector.

The Task Force includesnofficials from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, ODPEM, Jamaica Special Economic Zone, the National Environment and Planning Agency, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Ministry of National Security, representatives from all the municipal corporations that have a BPO centre operating in their jurisdiction, the JCF, and the Jamaica Defence Force.