BUSINESS-process outsourcing companies remained the biggest source of employment for Filipinos, even outside the metropolis, data from the recent International ICT Awards revealed.

Eighteen of the total 29 companies that vied for seven award categories disclosed growth in the number of their employees last year, hitting nearly a hundred thousand.

One of them is Accenture Inc., awarded BPO Employer of the Year, with its employment growth hitting nearly 40 percent over 2006 to over 15,000.

Other companies that vied for the award also posted employment growth.

Dell Philippines Inc. said it has grown from 300 employees since establishing its first contact center here early 2006 to 2,500.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. subsidiary ePLDT Ventus said it has 6,803 full-time employees; ICT Marketing Services Inc., on the other hand, said it has over 7,000 employees and 4,800 work stations in five contact centers in Metro Manila.

Seven-year-old Maersk Global Services Centers (Philippines) Ltd., on the other hand, forecasts 1,200 employees by the end of this year, from a thousand workers by the end of 2007.

Everybodys hurting from the strong pesoId like to believe that were not alone in this conundrum but the business models we, or these players here, have seem to be working, a Teletech Customer Care Management Inc. executive told the BusinessMirror before the awarding ceremonies began late Thursday.

The executive added that most BPO companies remain resilient despite the slowdown in the US economy.

Teletech, which vied for the BPO Company of the Year award, said it is on its way to hit its 20,000-employee mark by end of 2008 and 25,000 by end of 2009 with six to 10 additional call- center facilities.

Currently, it has over 15,000 employees in 10 locations across the country after six years.

Teletech, awarded last year as Fastest-Growing BPO Company of the Year, and seven other companies lost to Sitel Philippines Corp.

ICT Marketing was adjudged this years fastest-growing BPO company, besting Sitel and two other firms in this award category.

Oscar Saez, president of the BPO Association of the Philippines, said in his closing remarks the sectors growth targets are on track.

Teleperformance, for example, said it is looking to procure additional locations across the country.

Convergys Philippines Services Inc., which has more than 11,500 employees across eight locations, said it will open its center in Bacolod City by April this year.

New York-headquartered ExlService Holdings Inc. said its new operating center in the Philippines will open in the second quarter of 2008.

The International ICT Awards, the second after launching last year, recognizes the organizations and individuals who contribute the most to put Philippines and Filipinos in the minds of global business leaders.

Source: BusinessMirror By Dennis D. Estopace