MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang Palace has announced the passing of Republic Act 11165 or The Telecommuting Law, which allows firms and companies to make “work from home” an option for their employees.
Signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on December 20, 2018, a copy was released on Thursday, January 10.
Telecommuting Law is considered as possible solution to help ease traffic woes in Metro Manila and other urban cities.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo had said,“Telecommuting as a work arrangement is fast becoming the new norm, with the Filipino labor market starting to open up with alternative avenues in view of computer technologies.”
Now legally protected by law, more firms are taking advantage of the technology to provide flexible work arrangements (FWAs) for their employees.
Mary Grace Riguer, officer-in-charge of the Institute for Labor Studies —the policy research and advocacy arm of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) — shared that some key players in the industry have already given telecommuting a try.
Giant companies such as Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. and The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) have piloted last year their “work from home” programs.
Riguer noted that the services sector in the fields of medical health, computer and information technology, marketing, communications, customer service, sales, administration, education and training, and finance are ideal for telecommuting.
Riguer also pointed that there have already been a rising number of “Work from Home” employees working in various jobs with employers not just in the country but even abroad. Those jobs mostly are online teaching, customer support, web and software development, administration, sales and marketing, engineering, design and multimedia, mobile development, writing, accounting and bookkeeping, networking and business services.
Common “Work from Home” jobs
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also listed down the common jobs or occupations that fit well with “Work from Home”:
DOLE stated that the Telecommuting Law now provides protection to telecommuting employees.
Under the law, telecommuting employees will not be “discriminated” over regular office employees and will be given the same benefits. Telecommuting employees shall also be paid based on minimum number of work hours, overtime, rest days, and entitlement to leave benefits. The other benefits they should enjoy include the following:
— Sally, The Summit Express
Signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on December 20, 2018, a copy was released on Thursday, January 10.
Telecommuting Law is considered as possible solution to help ease traffic woes in Metro Manila and other urban cities.
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| Telecommuting is seen as a solution to traffic woes |
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo had said,“Telecommuting as a work arrangement is fast becoming the new norm, with the Filipino labor market starting to open up with alternative avenues in view of computer technologies.”
Now legally protected by law, more firms are taking advantage of the technology to provide flexible work arrangements (FWAs) for their employees.
Mary Grace Riguer, officer-in-charge of the Institute for Labor Studies —the policy research and advocacy arm of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) — shared that some key players in the industry have already given telecommuting a try.
Giant companies such as Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. and The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) have piloted last year their “work from home” programs.
Riguer noted that the services sector in the fields of medical health, computer and information technology, marketing, communications, customer service, sales, administration, education and training, and finance are ideal for telecommuting.
Riguer also pointed that there have already been a rising number of “Work from Home” employees working in various jobs with employers not just in the country but even abroad. Those jobs mostly are online teaching, customer support, web and software development, administration, sales and marketing, engineering, design and multimedia, mobile development, writing, accounting and bookkeeping, networking and business services.
Common “Work from Home” jobs
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also listed down the common jobs or occupations that fit well with “Work from Home”:
- Encoder/Transcriptionist
- Online teacher
- Internet entrepreneur/Online Seller
- Virtual Assistants
- Web Developer/Programer
- Online Writer/Editor
- Online Trading/Stock Market
DOLE stated that the Telecommuting Law now provides protection to telecommuting employees.
Under the law, telecommuting employees will not be “discriminated” over regular office employees and will be given the same benefits. Telecommuting employees shall also be paid based on minimum number of work hours, overtime, rest days, and entitlement to leave benefits. The other benefits they should enjoy include the following:
- receive a rate of pay, including overtime and night shift differential, and other similar monetary benefits not lower than those provided in applicable laws, and collective bargaining agreements;
- right to rest periods, regular holidays, and special non-working days;
- equivalent workload and performance standards as those of comparable workers at the employer’s premises;
- same access to training and career development opportunities as those of comparable workers at the employer’s premises, and be subject to the same appraisal policies covering these workers;
- receive appropriate training on the technical equipment at their disposal, and the characteristics and conditions of telecommuting;
- same collective rights as the workers at the employer’s premises, and shall not be barred from communicating with workers’ representatives.
— Sally, The Summit Express
