N.J. Senate panel to consider call center measure

    Companies that move call center jobs overseas would be ineligible to receive state grants, loans and tax benefits for five years under a measure going before a New Jersey Senate panel.

    The Economic Growth Committee is due to discuss the bill Thursday, but likely won’t vote on it.

    The measure also requires call centers to notify the state labor commissioner when relocating operations overseas. Call centers that fail to do that could be fined $10,000 per day.

     

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    The Assembly approved the measure in March.

    Union groups say Verizon’s call center workforce in New Jersey has declined over the last 10 years, with most jobs sent overseas.

    But a Verizon spokesman says any reduction is due to technological and business changes, and the company hasn’t sent New Jersey jobs overseas.

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