THE Philippines is one of the 10 least attractive countries to work in under a remote set up, according to the Global Remote Work Index released by US-based NordLayer.
The country ranked 57th out of 66 countries in the index, with a total score of 0.555 out of a perfect score of 1. The index aimed to reveal countries’ attractiveness for remote work by evaluating different aspects that allow remote working.
The index also included Asean countries such as Singapore which ranked 9th overall; Malaysia, 33rd; and Indonesia, 58th. European countries dominated the index.
“Nevertheless, the trend is clear—ever since the beginning of Covid-19, remote or hybrid work has become inevitable even in those companies that previously preached the importance of face-to-face interactions,” Juta Gurinaviciute, chief technology officer at NordLayer, said.
“This is why NordLayer carried out this detailed analysis and decided to publish the Global Remote Work Index. We took into account all of the fundamental parameters that countries must meet while researching the best countries to work in remotely by thoroughly evaluating a range of data,” she added.
Index dimensions
THE index was compiled by assessing and comparing the countries using the four index dimensions—cyber security, digital infrastructure, economic and social conditions, and Covid-19 handling.
In terms of the country’s performance, the Philippines posted its highest ranking in terms of cyber security at 45th out of 66 countries, with a score of 0.632 out of a perfect score of 1.
The country ranked the lowest in terms of digital infrastructure at 64th out of 66 countries. The Philippines scored 0.393 out of 1.
The Philippines ranked 54th in Covid-19 response with a score of 0.513 and 56th in terms of economic and social conditions.
The cyber-security assessment includes infrastructure, response, and legal measures while economic and social conditions include safety, tourism attractiveness, English proficiency, cost of living, and health care.
The dimensions also include digital and physical infrastructure including internet quality, affordability, e-infrastructure, e-government, physical infrastructure, and co-working spaces. In terms of Covid-19 response, this took into consideration vaccination and response rates.
“The Global Remote Work Index puts emphasis on the safety and reliability of both the physical and digital environment. It also gave special attention to cyber security. In this regard, it is an excellent resource for remote employees who wish to relocate or work in a nation other than that of their current residence,” Gurinaviciute said.
NordLayer said Canada, the UK, Portugal, the USA, and Germany, respectively, are the five most favorable countries for remote work regarding economic and social conditions. However, countries’ levels of wealth don’t guarantee cybersafety.
However, NordLayer said countries such as Malta, New Zealand, and the UAE rank relatively high in economic and social conditions, though they experience higher cyber-security risks than other countries with similar economic and social conditions.
The index also showed that remote workers willing to find a cheaper location to relocate will have to compromise on aspects like general safety or the level of English spoken in the country.
For those choosing to work remotely, Gurinaviciute suggests remembering some practical tips for staying secure—even if the country is high up in the cyber-security ranking. These tips include using a separate device and accounts for work; keeping home networks secure; and rethinking passwords.