BELIZE CITY, BELIZE – The Belize BPO industry has experienced steady growth in recent years, granting around $150M in salaries to 16,000 employees annually. However, it now faces a potential threat as the U.S. Senate is proposing a new bill that imposes strict rules and penalties on U.S. companies to limit the outsourcing of call center jobs.
How the Proposed Bill Works
The bill, Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025, would publicly list the U.S. companies that have moved call center jobs abroad.
Any company that plans to outsource these jobs abroad is required to give a 120-day notice to the U.S. Department of Labor and will become ineligible for new federal grants and loans. Their agents also need to tell customers of their location and if they’re using AI.
The bill also requires that call center jobs under federal contracts must be done in the U.S.
What Happens Should the Bill Pass
Belize’s BPO industry is attractive to U.S. companies because of its cost efficiency, English-speaking workforce, favorable time zone, and cultural fit with North American clients. But with the bill looming over, they could reduce or stop their outsourcing operations in the country so they could remain eligible for federal funding.
Experts say this could significantly slow down the industry’s job growth and foreign investments. To remain competitive, the industry must look to a non-U.S. client base, expand its outsourcing services, and solidify training for its workforce.
