This is Robert Cohen with the Special English Development Report.
People who sell goods and services over the telephone are calledtelemarketers. India, the Philippines, China and South Africa areamong countries where telemarketing is a growing industry. Others,such as Mauritius, want to enter the business.
This should not be difficult for countries with the technologyand interest. Many international companies have started to movetheir call center jobs to nations where the wages are lower. Peoplemay have no idea if a call center worker is on the other side of theworld.
Most call centers are used not only for telemarketing. Workersalso help customers. They collect information for companies. Andthey handle claims and record keeping. In fact, India’s call centerindustry has been described as “the back office of the world.” Aboutseventy companies there do telemarketing for American businesses.
Some experts estimate that more than two-hundred-fifty-thousandtelemarketing jobs have already moved out of the United States.These and other jobs in the services industry are expected tocontinue to leave the country.
The Forrester Research group expects more than three-million jobsin the services industry to move within the next fifteen years. Itsays they will go to countries like India, Russia, China and thePhilippines. As a result, the company says, the United States willlose more than one-hundred-thirty-thousand-million dollars in wages.
This amount could increasedepending on how a legal battle over a national “do not call” listis settled. More than fifty-million Americans have signed on to anew government list to prevent phone calls from telemarketers. Thesecalls often interfere with family time or dinner. President Bushsupports the do-not-call list, which took effect this month.Telemarketers could face large fines for violations, though somekinds of calls are still permitted.
The industry says the list violates the right to free speech. Inaddition, lawmakers who represent areas with call centers worryabout the loss of jobs. The fear is that more American call centerswill close or move overseas if the list is enforced.
Last week, an appeals court ruledthat the government may continue to enforce the do-not-call list fornow at least. A final ruling could come from the United StatesSupreme Court.
This VOA Special English Development Report was written by JillMoss. I’m Robert Cohen.