May 28, 2008


A Financial Post success story on the outsourced operations of Montreal-based Vidéotron in Egypt features partner Lisa Abe, who is quoted on the finer legal aspects associated with outsourcing practices abroad.

As advisor to clients on drafting contractual agreements for outsourcing arrangements and workplace best practices, Ms. Abe notes that "..retaining workers is only one challenge in outsourcing..."

"One of the things that is not focused on as much are the corporate policies. There's a lot of focus on doing the contract and looking at payment and pricing and the scope of the service," she says. "But they forget about the softer aspects," such as conflict resolution measures, complaints procedures and other internal guidelines and policies integral to running a workplace that must be harmonized.

"It also means doing the due diligence on the country itself. The economics, the laws …You have to make sure your contract is enforceable, that the local laws and judicial system will support your contract" to deal with the protection of information, intellectual property and even employee fraud, she says."

Click here for the full story online.