THE Senate on Wednesday ratified the bicameral conference committee report on a proposed law allowing employees in the private sector to “telecommute” or work from home. Telecommuting is a work arrangement that allows an employee to work from an alternative workplace with the use of telecommunication and/or computer technology. DoLE must also indicate the employees’ right to rest periods, regular holidays, and special non-working days, as well as equivalent workload and performance standards as those of comparable workers at the employer’s premises. The bicam report also provides for the establishment of a telecommuting pilot program in select industries for a period of not more than three years to enable DoLE to determine the advantages and disadvantages of a telecommuting program in the Philippines, Villanueva said. “We congratulate all our co-authors in both Houses for their unceasing support to this measure which will give our workers a meaningful work-life balance,” he added.

Source: Manila Times October 03, 2018 11:03 UTC