In this part of the world, the simple act of commuting to work and going back home has become a daily struggle. The transportation system leaves much to be desired, and the traffic does not just grind to a halt during rush hours but throughout the day, even way after midnight. This is brought about by globalization, industries serving the needs of the consumers no matter where in the world they may be.
One would leave the house freshly showered, wearing nicely pressed shirts and makeup for the ladies. Unfortunately, the morning glow is always short-lived in this country, so the poor employees would reach the office sweaty, disheveled and tired from all the pollution and the intense heat (or the rain and flooding, as the case may be).
The country is losing a great amount of money because of the traffic gridlock. This translates to lost time, reduced productivity, stress and ill health for workers. Government services and the operations of private companies are all affected. It’s a huge problem and all sectors must bring their heads together now to find a solution to our ever-worsening traffic condition.
A couple of months ago, the Lower House approved on second reading a bill that would allow employees to work outside the office. House Bill (HB) 7402, or the law on telecommuting (work from home), was authored by Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte. He believes that telecommuting is possible because of technology. Further, it fits the situation in Manila, as it would help employees perform their work duties while avoiding traffic and unpleasant weather conditions. They will be able to save huge sums of money if they do not need to pay for gas or fares every day.
Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas earlier filed HB 5841, or an “Act Institutionalizing a Telecommuting Employment Program,” or work-from-home arrangement. This was combined with other proposed bills to give form to the latest version, HB 7402.
If the president will sign this bill into law, it will certainly be a big help not only for the workers but also for the private and public organizations, as their expenses will be significantly reduced. They will be able to save on utilities and overhead costs like office supplies, electricity, rent and other expenditures.
Sen. Joel Villanueva, author of Senate Bill No. 1363 or the Senate’s counterpart version, hailed the House approval of the telecommuting bill. “We expect that this measure would protect the rights of the home-based workers by ensuring that they have equal pay, leave benefits and promotion as their counterparts in the office,” he said.
Vilanueva said he is hopeful that, during the bicameral conference committee hearing, our lawmakers would be able to reconcile the differences in the House and Senate versions and eventually produce a cohesive and strong policy that will eventually promote Filipino workers’ right to work-life balance and flexible work arrangement.
According to Rep. Vargas, the increases in the price of oil and the worsening traffic problem in the metropolis are enough reasons for the bill to be approved. He said telecommuting would boost the morale of employees, reduce their stress and increase productivity and the quality of their services in the long run.
Everyone waits with anticipation for this measure to be signed into law, as it will greatly impact most of the country’s major industries and the nation’s economy in general. There are many companies all over the world that have embraced this new way of working, and many workers are hoping that the Philippines will be the next one to adopt telecommuting for the benefit of millions of Filipino employees.