Breakthrough - Offshore Outsourcing – Does it Empower Women?

Discussion Highlights

• Anti-Offshoring Bill myths prevail (Sen. Fielding)

• Offshore BPO employment supports ancillary female workers

• Australia outsources 12% of its contact centre jobs, but 60% of these onshore, with 40% mainly India, Phil, NZ, Malaysia

• Research: US$1 off shored generates US$1.16 to GDP

• Discussion around empowerment vs. social protection

• Just 8% Indian female contact centre workers married (n=638)

• Challenges include family pressure, social stigma of night work, work intensity

• Multi-part approach (all stakeholders)

• Don’t sacrifice social support as margin pressure grows

• Females learn to say ‘No’ to family pressures

• Solutions needed around infrastructure and housing (socio-spatial restrictions in India)

• Education access for the evolution of BPO to KPO