HYBRID work is here to stay and the government must invest in infrastructure to allow more Filipinos to work under this alternative arrangement, according to an expert from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
In an Asian Development Blog, ADB Southeast Asia Department Social Sector Specialist Sameer Khatiwada said hybrid work arrangements will play an important role in a post-pandemic economy.
This means, Khatiwada said, adequate ICT infrastructure is needed in order to make this possible for workers in the region, including the Philippines.
“Remote work is not possible without connectivity, so governments need to prioritize investments in infrastructure that allow workers to be productive in a hybrid setting,” Khatiwada said.
The ADB expert also said some governments in Southeast Asia provided incentives to support companies that have adopted flexible work arrangements for employees, including the Philippines.
Khatiwada also said skills training and social protection policies for workers can support this transition to hybrid work arrangements. Remote work demands basic digital skills, among others.
“Perhaps the most important thing governments can do is make sure workers have such basic skills, to allow them to take their first steps into the new world of work,” he added.
Khatiwada said not all jobs can be done remotely. Most jobs that can be done using alternative work arrangements fully or partially use information technology.
Citing studies published by the University of the Philippines School of Economics and Philippine Economic Society Khatiwada said out of the 427 occupations examined, only 8 percent to 10 percent have all tasks classified as remote.
The data, he added, shows that 35 percent to 37 percent of these occupations cannot be done remotely while the rest can be done through a combination of onsite and remote tasks.
The ADB expert said jobs in finance, information and communication, professional, scientific and technical services, and education, were less affected by the lockdowns imposed to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“The pandemic’s interaction with technology may have accelerated trends such as digitization, automation and near-shoring, or reshoring, with negative implications for skilled worker demand in Southeast Asia,” Khatiwada said.
In March, ADB said the pandemic has prompted industries such as accommodation, food services, transportation, and recreational services to close. The workers in these industries had to find employment elsewhere and the transition has not been easy due to the differences in skills and experience.
ADB also said digital transformation, automation, and remote working have already transformed jobs, facilities, processes, and skills needs, increasing the demand for higher value-added services and employee skills.
Given these adjustments in the labor market, ADB believes a higher number of job seekers is possible. Those looking for jobs will include all those who lost theirs due to the lockdown; school dropouts; and new labor entrants.