IT Sweatshops Breaking Indians

Wired News ^ | July 11, 2003 | Manu Joseph

[John Jorsett]

MUMBAI, India -- Outsourcing tech jobs to India has caused turmoil for workers in the United States and Europe. But it seems it's causing turmoil for Indians, as well.

An estimated 50,000 young English-speaking Indians who work in call centers here are exposed to a host of health problems. They are usually in their early 20s, just out of college and up all night answering tech calls.

[Enterprise]

Yes my dear Indian girls. Watch standing in the Navy was so much fun too!! We worked a 2 2 2 then 80 off.

[Blue Screen of Death]

Two call center workers have suffered miscarriages
........Reboot

suffers from constipation and acid stomach
........Reboot

sore throats
........Reboot

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[PokeyJoe]

pssst -

If you call Dell tech support, you have a 75% chance of talking to someone in Bangalore, or in New Dehli.

Don't tell anybody - it's supposed to be a secret.

Why, I just talked to Danny the other day in Bangalore... or maybe his name was Dharmesh.... I dunno.

[Enterprise]

I've heard that the health industry has tried outsourcing transcription work to India and that the results have been less that satisfactory.

[WayneM]

As an American support engineer, this just breaks my heart.

[riri]

Thought you might like this one.

[Petronski]

a host of health problems including digestive diseases, hair loss, back pain and stress.

Welcome to my life, Haji, now answer the phone.

[lelio]

Try asking about their day or childhood, see if they make up a story.

[Pukin Dog]

After the Indians get union representation, the destruction of their IT industry might just bring the jobs back to America.

[nwrep]

This will break your heart!

[oceanview]

The next time I call Dell, maybe I'll try and hipnotize one of them: "you are getting sleepy, your eyelids are heavy". Or better yet, I will start talking with an Indian accent to throw them off. Like Babu from Seinfeld: "this is a very bad PC, a very bad PC".

[right-sidedNYer]

You have heard correct. Initially it was being done to save money - as obviously, Indian MTs can survive on a heck of a lot less than American MTs. But what has happened over the years is that the quality of work being produced out of India is less than satisfactory, hence needing American editors, which ultimately raises the cost of the transcription per line - eliminating the initial benefit. The quality of the work that comes out of India is horrid. They can't do it without help from American MTs.

There are some success stories -- there are a few Indian medical transcription companies that have managed to do well with associations with MT companies here in the US. The Indian government recently decided to keep medical transcription a nontaxable industry - which motivates Indian MT companies even more than before. Unlike the IT industry, however, MTs in the US are not losing their jobs to Indian MTs - yet. They don't help because they can and do come in and undercut US services, thusly keeping American MTs pay at the same rate it has been for years and years (can't blame all of that on overseas transcription) BUT - your medical records, along with your SS#, and other pertinent information could be going overseas - and unless they're being edited by American MTs -- there are probably a multitude of mistakes/errors in your medical records. The new HIPAA laws will not be able to enforced in India either.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

....says he suffers from constipation and acid stomach. In the past eight months he has put on 29 pounds, he said.

Wow! He is constipated! I would hate to be around when that breaks loose.

[Prov1322]

Proof that this is really from The Onion:

Some even claim assuming a foreign accent for long periods causes sore throats.

Perhaps there is a shortage of TeleLawyers advertising on Indian television when they drag themselves home after their shift in the CallCenterSaltMines...

[Enterprise]

Americans should be deeply worried about the release of sensitive information to overseas companies. I agree, HIPPA will be useless here. As usual they will jump on violators with both feet in America where horror stories overseas will go uninvestigated.

[riri]

But what has happened over the years is that the quality of work being produced out of India is less than satisfactory, hence needing American editors

But that is pretty much always the case with outsourcing, foreign subs, etc. It takes a boatload of Expen$ive American ex pat's to babysit. Furnished houses, expense accounts, home leaves, fuel reimbursements, perks, etc.--

[lelio]

The Indian government recently decided to keep medical transcription a nontaxable industry
Sounds like the US should do the same for here, and tax foreign work.

your medical records, along with your SS#, and other pertinent information could be going overseas
How long till someone realizes that offering a person $500 to a person that makes $5k a year is enough of an incentive to give them any information that comes across their desk? I'm waiting to see some CDs printed with everyone's SSN from their records being sent to India.

[right-sidedNYer]

More than that, riri. They do do all you stated, and to boot, they have Americans right here in the good old USofA proofing and editing work that's sent via FTP, e-mail, etc. It just kills me - because these editors are not paid a heck of a lot - and if they really wanted to edit work there are a bunch of American MTs that surely could use the work and someone taking the time to pour through every darn word they transcribe. NO amount of money - NONE - could get me to do either. I'm not for sale - not if it means putting other Americans out of work.