BT call centre worker suspended over eBay ad

Protest at jobs to India

By Tim Richardson • Get more from this author

Posted in Music and Media, 30th January 2004 16:30 GMT

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An agency worker at BT Retail's call centre in Newcastle has been suspended for posting a "for sale" ad on eBay in protest at jobs being exported to India.

The ad for "one hard working call centre advisor" challenges the growing trend of companies exporting jobs overseas and the threat it poses to British jobs.

Protesting about the threat to UK jobs, the call centre advisor writes: "Take up this once in a lifetime opportunity to have your very own call centre advisor because they're going fast and won't be here much longer."

The auction ended a week ago and failed to generate any bids.

In a statement the UK's dominant telco said: "BT can confirm that a contact centre adviser has been suspended, pending further investigation into an advert posted on the eBay Web site."

The telco said that it remained "absolutely committed" to its contact centre operations in the UK but added: "BT's contact centres in India are working to the same high standards that BT sets for its UK contact centres."

Last March BT confirmed plans to set up two call centres in India but insisted that no UK jobs would be lost as a direct result of the move.

Earlier this week a report found that punting jobs overseas to countries such as India could "significantly boost" the UK's economic growth. ®