'We are not prostitutes'

BPO workers protest stereotyping in the wake of an MMS clip surfacing on the Internet

BPO workers protest stereotyping in the wake of an MMS clip surfacing on the Internet

What makes a sex MMS popular? Those responsible for bringing such video clips in the public domain, market it in the name of popular personalities such as Bollywood actresses (sometimes also lookalikes), sports stars or politicians. The next most saleable victims for them are call centre or BPO employees.

Behind the scenes: Webshots from a sex clip uploaded on the Internet
with the title 'Gurgaon call centre girl'.

Recently such a clip was uploaded on a website with the words 'Gurgaon call centre sex scandal'. It showed a supervisor having sex with his subordinate. In the video, the girl wearing shorts and T-shirt enters a room with things scattered all around. The guy recording her each move is right behind her.

The girl is asked to lie down and then blind folded. Later she is asked to strip slowly. While she undresses, the guy shooting her with his camera, probably a handy cam, zooms in and out focusing on her private parts. After she strips completely, the guy puts the camera on a tripod in such a position that each and every intimate moment is captured.

However, the BPO workers have expressed their outrage at being stereotyped as 'loose' or 'available'. Sohrab Khan, who works with a BPO in Gurgaon, said, "It is common belief that call center employees, mostly in early twenties, get intimate while working late night shifts. But this is not true. Now most of the companies have started monitoring their employee activities at night. Companies also take disciplinary actions. Mostly, they fire those employees who engage in such activities at work."

"Just because I work for a call centre doesn't mean I am available. There are days and night shifts everywhere and those employed are also young professionals. Every company has one or two such cases. But it wouldn't be wise to label all BPO employees as those with loose morals," said Ritika, another employee working with a top BPO company in Gurgaon.

In a recent joint Reuters/Ipsos global survey of about 12,000 people in 24 countries, it was found that workers in India were the mostly likely to report sexual harassment with a report rate of 26 percent. They were followed by workers in China with 18 percent reporting sexual harassment, Saudi Arabia 16 percent, Mexico 13 percent and South Africa 10 percent.

The poll also found that 7 per cent of employees have been intentionally physically assaulted out of anger by a co-worker or manager during their workday. India again topped the table with 25 percent of workers saying they had been assaulted at work. Sweden was once again at the bottom with only one percent reporting such an incident.

Work it hard

The Reuters/Ipsos global survey came as experts warn that sexual harassment seems to be on the rise in the workplace with several high profile cases. Hewlett-Packard Mark Hurd resigned amid an investigation into claims of sexual harrassment and Mark McInnes, former CEO of up market Australian retailer David Jones, quit in June after admitting to "unbecoming behaviour" with a female staff member.

Speaking to MiD DAY, Dr. Sanjay Chugh, a well-known psychiatrist explains why the profession is being stereotyped as risqu ufffd.

"There is a common belief that the sex epidemic in India especially among call center girls and guys is rising at astronomical heights. The reason behind this is those working in these sectors are young with a lot of disposable incomes.