Chile's Chamber of Deputies approved a bill on Tuesday banning the outsourcing of call center services abroad, with 76 votes in favor and 68 against. The measure, now sent to the Senate, imposes fines of up to 1,000 UF on violating companies. The aim is to prevent international phone scams and boost local jobs.
Chile's Chamber of Deputies narrowly approved the bill led by Deputy Gonzalo Winter (FA), supported by opposition lawmakers. The vote tallied 76 in favor, 68 against, and four abstentions. The legislation bars companies from hiring foreign services to contact clients via phone, digital means, or other platforms, with fines up to 1,000 UF, over $40 million.
The bill features a transitory article empowering the President to issue regulations for oversight and penalties. Winter championed it, noting the job threat: “The great threat to their employment (…) is that this service is being taken out of Chile.” He added that “half of Chile's teleoperation services operate in Peru, Ecuador, or Caribbean countries because they pay less.”
Deputy Jorge Díaz (DC) stressed security aspects: “Phone scams have evolved and today organized crime runs fraud call centers with scripts and databases.”
From the government side, Republican Deputy Luis Sánchez opposed it for hindering economic recovery. “It is not understood (…) that restrictions are placed on an element of foreign investment,” he said, questioning crime links: “There is no fundamental reason telling us that this service cannot be provided by a company outside Chile.”
