PRESIDENT Duterte has signed into law measures institutionalizing work-from-home arrangement in the private sector and increasing the monthly old-age pension of senior war veterans.
Through Republic Act 11165 signed by the President last December 20, employers are encouraged to adopt telecommuting—a work arrangement that allows an employee to work from an alternative workplace with the use of telecommunication and or computer technologies.
Aside from promoting work-life balance, the law is also intended to address traffic congestion and its tremendous effect on the country’s economy. Sen. Joel Villanueva welcomed on Thursday the signing into law of this bill which he authored and sponsored.
“We thank the President for supporting our bill that will promote workers’ right to work-life balance and flexible arrangement,” said Villanueva, who chairs the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development.
Under the 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 may mutually agree upon, provided that it shall not be less than the minimum labor standards set by law.
It shall also include compensable work hours, minimum number of work hours, overtime, rest days and entitlement to leave benefits.
The employer shall also ensure fair treatment for the telecommuting employees.
All telecommuting employees shall:
- a) 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.
- b) Have the right to rest periods, regular holidays and special non-working days.
- c) Have the same or equivalent workload and performance standards as those of comparable workers at the employer’s premises.
- d) Have the 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.
- e) Receive appropriate training on the technical equipment at their disposal, and the characteristics and conditions of telecommuting.
- f) Have the same collective rights as the workers at the employers’ premises, and shall not be barred from communicating with workers’ representatives.
Meanwhile, the President also signed on the same day Republic Act 11164 which increases the old-age pension of veterans of World War II, Korean and Vietnam wars to 20,000 per month.
This only covers veterans of Korean and Vietnam wars who are not receiving pension from the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Moreover, the amount necessary for the initial implementation shall be charged against the available appropriation of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.