Turns out we got an early Christmas gift last year, with President Duterte signing Republic Act 11165 or the Telecommuting Act into law last Dec. 20, 2018.
According to the new law, “an employer in the private sector may offer a telecommuting program to its employees on a voluntary basis, and upon such terms and conditions as they mutually agree upon provided that such terms and conditions shall not be less than the minimum labor standards set by the law, and shall include compensable work hours, minimum number of work hours, overtime, rest days, and entitlement to leave benefits.”
This means that although employees may work remotely, existing benefits and rules set by current labor laws will still apply.
It has been said that telecommuting has benefits for both employees and their employers. Aside from reportedly increased productivity and morale (as employees have the freedom to choose to work in spaces that are more conducive for them, versus the fixed setup of an office), it also serves as a way for companies to reduce contributions to pollution and climate change. This is because telecommuting or working from home reduces the back-and-forth commute, during which we produce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
The full law can be read on Inquirer.net.
Header image courtesy of Unsplash
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