LONDON: Thousands of jobs with directory enquiries at British Telecom (BT) are at risk over transfer of jobs to India. The Communication Workers' Union's annual conference in Bournemouth voted unanimously Monday to ballot on industrial action if BT exports any more jobs. Union leaders say that as many as 200,000 jobs across the economy could be transferred abroad by companies in the next 10 years. The threat comes in the face of BT's plans to move about 2,200 jobs to Bangalore by the end of next year. Union leaders say BT pays Indian staff 80 pence an hour, compared to six pounds an hour in Britain. Average pay in India is 3,000 pounds a year instead of 15,000 pounds in Britain. The union said BT is planning to "shed their national identity and culture" and that callers ringing directory inquiry and information services were unaware that they were being answered some 8,000 km away. Mark Taggart, a member of the union executive, said banks and other financial institutions already using centres in India order staff to watch soaps, including "Coronation Street" and "EastEnders", to learn local accents and chat about the previous night's television with customers. Dialling codes, he said, prompted local weather conditions to appear on screens, to allow staff in another continent to know whether it was sunny or raining in Britain. "There's no altruism here, it's crude exploitation and it's simply about making more profit," said Taggart. "Most companies are currently turning to India, but it could soon be Malaysia or China. We will continue to protest and, if necessary, we will strike." BT said it had no plans to move jobs on top of the 2,200, and told the union it was prepared to negotiate an agreement on best practice in India, insisting it would guarantee staff pay rates and conditions above the norm there. The 2,200 Bangalore jobs include some new positions, but BT has already announced the transfer of 700 directory inquiry and 300 billing jobs to India, including some provided by contractors, The Guardian reports. It employs 30,000 staff in 34 Britain centres, including areas such as Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Dudley and Newport, where the investment has replaced manufacturing jobs.
Source: IANS