Mumbai:
With a fast track court finding the driver guilty of raping and murdering Bangalore-based call centre employee Pratibha Murthy, the vulnerability of BPO employees has gained foreground again.
And in the light of the peril the odd hours pose for female workers, BPO firms in Mumbai have toned up measures to protect their staff, particularly women employees.
Firms, such as Hutchison 3 Global Services (H3GS), have taken a host of security measures ranging from guards escorting female employees in vehicles to putting up an emergency number in place.
Head of the Transport Department at H3GS, Agnello Fernandes said, "Drivers are instructed not to halt on the way. Employees can call the emergency number provided to them. We have also told them to inform the transport team first if they want to make any changes in their pick up and drop schedule, and not call the driver directly."
Agnello added that an escort is provided to female employees commuting between 8 pm and 6.30 am.
"We hold guard briefings fortnightly and ask employees to report any unruly behaviour by the drivers. Serious note is taken of such issues and disciplinary action is initiated," said Agnello.
WNS Global Services have also provided security guards for female employees in transit during night hours. "After 8 pm, no female employee is allowed to travel unescorted in the vehicle," a spokesperson said.
On December 13, 2005, a 24-year-old call centre employee, Pratibha Srikanth Murthy, from Bangalore was raped and murdered by the driver of the vehicle sent to pick her up.
The cabbie, Shiva Kumar, had claimed to be a replacement for the regular driver. A fast track court in Bangalore found the driver guilty on Wednesday.
And in the light of the peril the odd hours pose for female workers, BPO firms in Mumbai have toned up measures to protect their staff, particularly women employees.
Firms, such as Hutchison 3 Global Services (H3GS), have taken a host of security measures ranging from guards escorting female employees in vehicles to putting up an emergency number in place.
Head of the Transport Department at H3GS, Agnello Fernandes said, "Drivers are instructed not to halt on the way. Employees can call the emergency number provided to them. We have also told them to inform the transport team first if they want to make any changes in their pick up and drop schedule, and not call the driver directly."
Agnello added that an escort is provided to female employees commuting between 8 pm and 6.30 am.
"We hold guard briefings fortnightly and ask employees to report any unruly behaviour by the drivers. Serious note is taken of such issues and disciplinary action is initiated," said Agnello.
WNS Global Services have also provided security guards for female employees in transit during night hours. "After 8 pm, no female employee is allowed to travel unescorted in the vehicle," a spokesperson said.
On December 13, 2005, a 24-year-old call centre employee, Pratibha Srikanth Murthy, from Bangalore was raped and murdered by the driver of the vehicle sent to pick her up.
The cabbie, Shiva Kumar, had claimed to be a replacement for the regular driver. A fast track court in Bangalore found the driver guilty on Wednesday.
