MANILA, Philippines -- A call center services provider is offering its agents the option to work within the comfort of their own homes.

Callworkz is expanding its operations here, aiming to generate $120 million in revenue and create 5,000 seats over the next few years, chief executive Brian Silverman told reporters Friday.

“We have pledged $30 million in investments over three years,” Silverman said.

“We started with 60 agents, some of whom are premise-based and some home-based, so clients can choose,” he said. “But our main focus is for the number of home-based agents to grow.”

The company also has a profit sharing program, giving employees stock options based on a merit system.

Callworkz screens home agents more strictly for competency, and certifies their PC and equipment at home, which the agent can buy through a loan program, country manager Junie Pama said.

It reimburses agents’ DSL expenses for operations. Each home-based agent is connected to a US-based server that hosts Callworkz’ Internet-based system and monitors the agents’ performance.

Callworkz donates part of its proceeds to the Knowledge Channel, and encourages agents to get involved in community work, the company officials said.

Pama said the company preferred experienced agents but was open to recruiting fresh graduates and those who avail themselves of the government’s Training for Work Scholarship Program.

A P350-million government program, done by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Business Processing Association of the Philippines, gives away scholarship coupons to people who may meet the academic requirements to work in the outsourcing and offshoring (O&O) industry but need further skills training to meet employer standards.

About 55,000 people are expected to benefit from the program in 2008. About 40,000 of them are expected to get hired, comprising 30 percent of the 120,000 new O&O recruits for the year. Edited by INQUIRER.net