EMPLOYEES in the private sector would soon be able to work from home or any workplace outside their office with the signing by President Rodrigo Duterte of a new law that allows telecommuting as an alternative work arrangement.
Under Republic Act (RA) 11165 or Telecommuting Act, an employer in the private sector may offer a telecommuting program to its employees on a "voluntary" basis and upon terms and conditions that will not be less than the minimum labor standards set by law.
The law directs the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to establish a telecommuting pilot program in select industries that will last for a period of not more than three years.
The DOLE is tasked to do the baselining; scoping and profiling research work prior to the telecommuting program's implementation; regular quarterly monitoring; and evaluation.
At the end of the program, the Labor department is instructed to submit a report to Congress on its findings.
The law defines telecommuting as a kind of work arrangement that "allows an employee in the private sector to work from an alternative workplace with the use of telecommunication and/or computer technologies."