A new call centre bill, aimed at discouraging the US companies from outsourcing to cheaper destinations, has been tabled in the US parliament.

The legislation is tabled at the US House of Representatives could negatively impact the BPO sector in the country but there is considerable opposition to the provisions of the bill. The bill is aiming to stop federal grants and contracts to US companies that offshore call centers.

The proposed law would mandate a 120-day advance notification before a company is allowed to move a call centre abroad. The more would not destroy the industry as a whole but would surely discourage some smaller players from opting for outsourcing.

Indian outsourcing firm leaders said that the bill will not only affect the BPO sector in India but also businesses in the US. Outsourcing allows US businesses to reduce costs and now the US firms will have to calculate if the benefits o cost savings would be worth loosing the government grants and contracts.

The bill also asks for customer service representatives, who are working for US firms to disclose their locations correctly upon request. This is only likely to effect smaller players who are in the process of establishing call centers.