Adopt best HR practises, police tell BPOs

BPO firms have been asked by the police to immediately adopt the best human resources practices ensuring the safety and security of their employees without waiting for government notification in the wake of a woman BPO employee's murder here last week.

"Without waiting for any government notification or conditions imposed by the police, the BPO companies should put the best HR practices in place ensuring safety and security of their employees," city police commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh said during an interactive meet with BPO managers on "safety and safety of call centre employees" here.

He said that he will take up amendment to section 25 of the Shops and Commercial establishments act which permits IT and ITeS companies to employ women at night "without stipulating requisite conditions" with the government and see that certain conditions ensuring safety and security of their employees are made mandatory for the BPO companies.

All BPO and it companies must have global positioning system (GPS) in their transport vehicles as is being adopted by GE in Hyderabad, Singh told the meeting, coming within days of the rape and murder of 24-year old Prathiba by the driver of the vehicle she boarded for her workplace.

"While we can suggest to the government to make police verification of all drivers employed or outsourced by BPOs mandatory, there is limitation in this. Except stating that he does or does not have a criminal record, this will hardly throw any light on the kind of person he is," he said.