FORMER Rep. Monsour Del Rosario (1st District, Makati City) yesterday appealed to the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) to reconsider its decision giving business process outsourcing (BPO) companies only until April 1 this year to resume in-person office operations.
“I think it’s too inconsiderate and cruel,” Del Rosario said in reaction to the FIRB’s warning that tax exemption incentives enjoyed by BPOs will be cancelled if they do not comply with the deadline.
As author of the Telecommuting Act of 2018, otherwise known as the “Work from Home” law, Del Rosario said government must uphold and enhance the rights of workers to work remotely, especially during this time of pandemic, instead of discouraging it.
“I understand that the intention of the FIRB is to help revive our economy by having more people go out to support other businesses. But forcing BPO workers to go out while we are still in the middle of a pandemic is quite unreasonable,” Del Rosario said.
He added: “As leaders, we should always put the welfare of our people as our top priority. Who’s going to suffer from this sudden imposition of a return-to-office deadline but the humble BPO workers who helped keep our economy afloat over the past two years? All the BPOs are asking for is a few months’ extension. Why is that so hard to give?”
Del Rosario added that threatening BPO companies with tax impositions, which would eventually lead to BPO companies imposing sanctions on their employees who will refuse to return to the office for valid reasons, are violations of the Telecommuting Act.
“The government should look into this matter more before it gets complicated. We shouldn’t allow any entity or government body to step on the rights of our people at any cost,” he stressed.
The senatorial candidate also said forcing the BPO industry to resume face-to-face office operations could have more negative effects than good. “One of the reasons why I pushed for the Telecommuting Act while I was in Congress is to help ease the traffic situation in the cities. Imagine if we bring everyone out again while our public transport system is currently being crippled by the rising fuel prices, then wouldn’t our BPO workers suffer more physically, mentally, and even financially?” Del Rosario said.
