HR issues to affect Philippine BPO

By Melvin G. Calimag , ZDNet Asia MANILA--The local business process outsourcing (BPO) market will remain robust despite the global financial turmoil, but it will face HR challenges--particularly talent shortage and higher salary demand--as the sector copes with surging growth. This is the prognosis presented by Canada-headquartered IT research firm XMG, noting that the decade-high inflation rate in the Philippines--at 11.4 percent--may push BPO workers to turn to their employers or the job market, in a bid to increase their pay to compensate for the rising cost of living. In a report released Friday, XMG said call center, IT and BPO companies in Metro Manila should brace themselves for increasing employee sentiments to have their salary reviewed to combat inflation. Citing figures from the latest XMG Employment Lifestyle... [read full story]