The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) are taking steps to allow work-from-home (WFH) arrangements for the long term if not permanently in industries such as the information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) either through amendments to and/or introduction, of new rules.
DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual said at the National Conference of Employers yesterday said the agencies are looking at two ways: amending the law that limits the percentage of workers that can WFH or; allowing the shift of registration of companies from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to the Board of Investments which does not subject to rules the portion of business that can be done outside the sites.
Pascual said when the PEZA law was passed, “there was no concept of BPOs (business process outsourcing)… only industrial companies.”
DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the agencies are set to come up with the revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Telecommuting Act by September 12, before the lapse of the extended deadline that allowed companies to do WFH.
DOLE found this solution easier and faster as legislation is a long route, Laguesma said.
“We believe there is enterprise connectivity… there are some work that can be done onsite and there are some that can be done at home. However, we also want to make sure deliverables can be done to make sure companies implementing WFH are able to provide the services of principals,” Laguesma added.
He said the DOLE would also like to ensure non-diminution of benefits of workers doing their jobs off site.
Laguesma said telecommuting was at first voluntary but became mandatory during the pandemic for companies to continue operations and to ensure the health and safety of workers.
“IT- BPM flourished because of this.
We should help these companies. Out there, (hybrid work) is the normal, that is the arrangement. (Companies) in NCR (National Capital Region) can get qualified workers in the Visayas and Mindanao without dislocating them. That is one way of easing doing business,” Laguesma said. Irma Isip