Paris-based call centre to provide 2000 jobs in Guyana

BuildingGeorgetown: A six storey building at the junction of Camp and Robb Streets, Georgetown will be the opened in May for a Paris based call centre called “Teleperformance.”

The call centre is a global customer service-oriented company based in Paris, France and it will be making its way into the Guyanese market. This investment which comes at a time when Guyana is battling to reduce its unemployment rate, will be creating some 2,500 much needed jobs opportunities for young Guyanese.

The company’s operations will be housed in the six-storied building currently undergoing finishing touches at the junction of Camp and Robb Streets, Georgetown and is owned by Fazwan Khan, Proprietor of the Discount Store on Regent Street.

, Mark Pfeiffer, the Executive Vice President of the Global Management Team at Teleperformance, related that the company will officially launch its Guyana operations in Paris, France next week, followed by a launch and commencement of operations in Guyana in about 90 days time or early May.

Pfeiffer, though declining to give a definite figure of how much has been invested into the venture, did indicate that the sum was a substantial one and will be released when the launch is done in Guyana.

He confirmed that the award -winning company will be creating and providing some 2,500 jobs to the young Guyanese with positions ranging from Executives down to Customer Service agents in the areas of customer service, technical support, call center and social media, while giving a brief overview of the company.

“We are the worldwide leader in multichannel customer experience. We’ve been providing superior customer care services for leading companies throughout the world since 1978, with expertise in many markets and verticals.

“We work with people and for people to bring passion and excellence to our businesses like our own business”, he said.

When construction of the building began last year a prominent sign was erected just outside, stating that it would house a food court. However, a close source told this publication that that idea was scrapped after the company contacted the building’s owner and expressed its interest in renting it for the purpose of housing its operations here. This, he said, proved to be a much more profitable venture and the necessary works began.

Meanwhile, Guyanese have welcomed the news with enthusiasm noting that the investment will curb the high level of unemployment which currently exists in the country.

Speaking to the Guyana Times during a visit to the site on Monday, one young man related that he is elated at the announcement since he knows many individuals who are currently unemployed and are looking for employment opportunities with no success.

“We all know that right now, people are not finding jobs in Guyana. It is very hard. I know of many people who are home right now, out of a job but they are qualified to work. So I think this is very good news. I welcome it and I know they will welcome it as well,” the young man stated.

The location of the building however, has raised several eyebrows since there are no known parking facilities at the moment and many believe that the building is likely to add to severe traffic congestion in the area which is widely known as a shopping hub. Teleperformance is a global company, worldwide leader in multichannel customer experience. Founded in 1978 by Daniel Julien, the company currently specialises in customer service, technical support, call center, debt collection and social media.

The company operates about 135,000 computerised workstations, with more than 175,000 employees across 270 contact centers in 62 countries.

The company conducts programmes in more than 63 different languages and dialects for a wide variety of global companies in various industries.

The company is known to have operations in the United Kingdom, Albania, Brazil, Chile, India, Philippines, China, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Nigeria, Norway, Italy, Portugal, the USA, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Australia and Netherlands as well as Egypt, Russia, Sweden and Germany. The company has copped several awards over the years including Best Employer Award.