Offshore outsourcing....literally.

[CanuckAmok]

Anyone happen to hear that piece on CBC Radio about the California-based customer care company setting up a decommissioned cruise ship?

Apparently, they've decided to operate a 2000-person telephone CSR unit off the coast of Baja. It will be staffed primarily by Indian telereps, and handle everything from flight reservations to IT support. The reps will live and work on the cruise ship for 6 month shifts, 7 days a week, for what they'd be paid in India. As the ship will be in international waters, it won't be under the jurisdiction of any labour agency.

This is cheaper than the cost of routing thousands of calls from North America to India.

Sorry I don't have a link; it was on the radio.

[brainshrub]

1. That can't be right.

It costs almost nothing to route to India as it already is. I don't believe this story. It smells like an urban myth.

[CanuckAmok]

2. I would say so, but the CBC are pretty reliable.

And they interviewed one of the founders.

My bet is that they're launching with the stated intent of hiring Indians, but they will probably try to hire Americans/Canadians who are despearate enough to work for Third World wages.

But maybe that's just my :tinfoilhat: talking.

[Fleshdancer]

3. it's all fun and games until the boat sinks

this is a huge disaster just waiting to happen. Floating sweat shops. great. :grr: