The rapid integration of artificial intelligence is threatening millions of jobs in the booming outsourcing industry of the Philippines, according to a recent report by BBC News. Multinational companies are increasingly deploying automated machines to perform tasks historically handled by human employees, leaving a massive workforce facing unprecedented economic uncertainty.
Lisa, a single mother who used a pseudonym to protect her identity, made a living from content writing for fifteen years. After freelancing straight out of college, she eventually joined a multinational corporation within the country`s business process outsourcing sector. She told the BBC that she consistently met deadlines and never felt any professional need to incorporate artificial intelligence into her daily tasks.
Eight months into her latest role, and just one month before she was scheduled to become a permanent employee, she was abruptly made redundant. In the months leading up to her termination, a public relations agency tasked Lisa and her colleagues with editing material generated by an automated program. She realized too late that her professional skills were being used to train the machine to accurately mimic the company`s specific writing style. She expressed deep regret, stating that she and her team essentially dug their own graves by training the very technology that ultimately replaced them.
Lisa is among several former outsourcing employees who spoke to reporters under the strict condition of anonymity. These workers signed restrictive confidentiality agreements in exchange for standard severance packages. They expressed intense fear that speaking publicly about their termination could severely damage their future employment prospects in an industry characterized by a tightly knit network of employers.
The business district of Cubao in Manila stands as a powerful symbol of the economic success the Philippines has enjoyed over the past two decades. Promoted in the early 2000s as an English-speaking alternative to India for outsourcing services, the country attracted massive investments from global groups. The industry currently employs approximately 1.9 million people and generates nearly 40 billion dollars in annual revenue, making up about 10 percent of the national economy.
The International Labour Organization estimates that 12.7 million Filipinos find themselves in occupations highly exposed to generative automation. This represents more than one in four workers, marking the highest share of vulnerable employment in Southeast Asia. Jack Madrid, president of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines, acknowledged the rapid adoption of this technology. He confirmed that more than two-thirds of the association`s member companies are currently running artificial intelligence pilot programs, noting that certain layers of jobs are already being automated at an accelerated pace.
During times of extreme economic uncertainty and sudden technological disruption, Islamic teachings offer a profound sense of psychological stability regarding employment and sustenance. The Quran provides explicit reassurance that there is no moving creature on earth whose provision does not rest entirely upon Allah (Surah Hud, 11:6). This foundational belief encourages individuals to navigate shifting job markets and acquire new skills with confidence, trusting that ultimate sustenance remains divinely guaranteed despite the changing landscape of global industries.
