Senator Joel Villanueva, principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11165 otherwise known as the Work From Home Law, is appealing to employers and government agencies to implement alternative work arrangements in anticipation of the major rehabilitation of EDSA beginning next month.
“We have been pushing for the adoption of alternative work setups since January to help our labor force prepare for this long-term rehabilitation effort, which is expected to last two to three years,” Villanueva said.
The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resource Development, emphasized the need for proactive measures to ease the burden on daily commuters, especially employees who lose valuable hours stuck in traffic just to report to their offices.
“Kawawa naman po ang ating mga empleyado na nauubos ang oras sa traffic dahil lang kailangan nilang pumasok sa opisina araw-araw para gawin ang trabaho na kaya naman nilang gawin sa kanilang kabahayan gamit ang tamang teknolohiya. We need to be more compassionate and innovative in our approach to work,” he added.
Under Republic Act No. 11165, private sector employers may offer remote work arrangements to employees on a voluntary basis, provided that such agreements meet minimum labor standards, including proper compensation, work hours, leave benefits and rest periods. Employers are also required to provide written documentation outlining the terms and expectations of the telecommuting setup.
In support of flexible work in the public sector, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has issued Memorandum Circular No. 06, s. 2022, encouraging government agencies to adopt flexible working arrangements where feasible.
“The world of work is constantly evolving, and we must respond with proactive, responsive solutions that prioritize the well-being of our workforce,” Villanueva said.
“Our workers are the backbone of our economy. Let us ensure they are supported—not strained—by these necessary infrastructure upgrades,” he concluded.
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