Chile’s Senate discusses ban on outsourcing services to overseas call centres

The bill is under consideration by the Senate’s Economic Commission, with the deadline for amendments extended to November 2.

Chile’s Senate has discussed a bill that would ban subcontracting services to call centres operating from abroad. Workers’ representatives raised concerns about centres handling users’ personal and medical information.

Source: Senate of the Republic of Chile

Participants sit in a meeting room at Chile’s Senate during a discussion of a bill — Chile’s Senate Economic Commission discusses a bill on overseas call centres. Illustrative photo. Photo: Telesolutionscallcentr / Pixabay, Pixabay Content License

Chile’s Senate Economic Commission discussed a bill that would prohibit subcontracting services to call centres operating from abroad. The proposal is in its second stage of consideration in the Senate.

Workers and companies in the sector presented their views. Florencia Urenda said the companies grouped together under her organisation follow their own industry standards and maintain formal contracts.

She said companies operating in Chile face unequal competition because differences in regulation lead to higher costs. Urenda cited the United States, Uruguay and Italy, where regulations are intended to support or strengthen local employment in contact-centre services.

The discussion also covered the outsourcing abroad of services connected to public agencies, including Fonasa’s telephone support service.

Workers’ representatives expressed particular concern about call centres handling users’ personal or sensitive information, especially clinical records.

A hearing with the National Chamber of Commerce is still pending. The deadline for submitting amendments to the bill was extended to November 2.

Translated from Spanish using artificial intelligence. Source: Senate of the Republic of Chile