US mulls Bill to bring back call centres [View All]

January 29, 2007 18:02 IST
Law makers in the US' Minnesota state are pushing for a legislation that will allow people to request an alternative American call centre if they are seeking personal or financial information.

The bill apparently has the backing of organised labour especially the Communications Workers of America, which has opposed outsourcing of communication and IT jobs to foreign countries, especially India.

Labour unions feel that the legislation will help bring "back" some of the call centres to the US. But similar bills have been opposed by businesses in the past.

The legislation that has been sponsored by state Representative Joe Atkins and state Senator Dan Sparks would also require the call centre employee to disclose, if asked, which country they are speaking from.

The legislators have cited the issue of security of information transmitted and the perceived inability of foreigners to understand American idioms as the reasons for pushing the bill.

http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2007/jan/29bpo2.htm

On Edit to Add: Interesting "Comment Section" below article.