Daily Telegraph revelations prompt assurances that IT work will stay in Australia
THE state government has promised to not send jobs to offshore call centres following revelations software companies applying for a $100 million contract to provide IT services must hire at least one-third of their programmers overseas.
NSW
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THE state government has promised to not send jobs to offshore call centres following revelations software companies applying for a $100 million contract to provide IT services must hire at least one-third of their programmers overseas.
“We won’t be sending jobs offshore — in terms of our call centres, in terms of our customer information,” Roads Minister Melinda Pavey said.
The Daily Telegraph yesterday reported details of a secret tender document, dated February 7, handed to potential bidders and discussed at an industry briefing with three invited companies days later.
It can also be revealed today two of three bids for the contract contain an “offshore component”. It is understood those are Indian companies — Liberal donor Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro Ltd. Sources also said the third company, an Australian firm, was invited to bid only for a “selected segment” of the contract while the Indian companies were invited to bid for the full scope.
Roads & Maritime Services chief Ken Kanofski yesterday denied there was a mandatory offshore requirement and that the document contained the word “minimum”. Ms Pavey’s office also denied “capping Aussie jobs” and said there was no requirement for any offshoring as part of the tender.
However Section 8.4.5 of the tender documents, seen by The Saturday Telegraph, reads: “The Proponent will outline its proposed offshore strategy for the Services, commencing with minimum 20% offshore utilisation in year 1, with an increase in offshore utilisation over the term”. Another part calls for “an initial year one target of 80%/20% onshore/offshore resource”.