A group of U.S. Senators, including by Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting American call center jobs and securing consumer data from risks associated with overseas operations. The United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act, also supported by Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and several others, seeks to curb the trend of outsourcing these jobs abroad.
In recent years, many companies have moved their call center operations overseas, leading to job losses in the U.S. and raising concerns about the security of American consumer data. “When Pennsylvanians call for customer service help, they should not have to fear that their personal data may be at risk,” Senator Casey stated, emphasizing the need for this legislation.
The proposed bill would make companies that outsource call center jobs ineligible for federal grants and subsidized loans. It also mandates that all call center work related to federal contracts be performed within the U.S. and requires companies to disclose the location of their call centers to customers, offering an option to transfer to a U.S.-based center upon request.
Additionally, businesses would need to notify the Department of Labor when they relocate call center operations outside the U.S. Senator Cortez Masto highlighted the bill’s importance for protecting jobs in Nevada and ensuring companies are held accountable for their outsourcing decisions.
The Communications Workers of America (CWA), representing a significant number of call center workers, has endorsed the bill. Dan Mauer, CWA’s Director of Government Affairs, praised the legislation for defending American jobs and safeguarding consumer data privacy.