WITH the growing and very real threat of the COVID-19 disease, this is the best time to test the efficacy of Republic Act (RA) 11165, otherwise known as the “Telecommuting Act.”
Telecommuting refers to working from an alternative workplace with the use of telecommunications and/or computer technologies.
COVID-19 is already causing immeasureable effects not only on the country’s economy but of the entire global community and the only way to fight back is to ensure that productivity will not ground to a halt and basic services are still delivered even in the event of a wide-scale lockdown.
Public offices and private corporations should now consider telecommuting as envisioned by RA 11165 to ensure that the country will survive the onslaught of the COVID-19 virus on the global economy. We all need to work together to stop the spread of virus and keep economy afloat.
Think of it this way: money saved from commuting may be used for your cell phone load. Yes, now more than ever, the telcos should not fail the country.
Under RA 11165, 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.
The law also provides that “such terms and conditions shall not be less than the minimum labor standards set by law, and shall include compensable work hours, minimum number of work hours, overtime, rest days, and entitlement to leave benefits.”
This is the best time to test this law. Now that many people are so scared to get out of their homes, our economy is the next victim of this COVID-19 scare. We can fight this by putting the telecommuting law into action.
