(Eagle News)–Senator Imee Marcos has filed a bill that aims to make the work-from-home arrangement mandatory.
In pushing for Senate Bill No. 1448 that aims to amend Republic Act No. 11165, or the “Telecommuting Act,” Marcos noted the over 30,000 COVID-19 cases confirmed in the country.
As of Sunday afternoon, there are 35455 COVID-19 cases.
The World Health Organization has said the Philippines has the fastest rise in cases in the Western Pacific.
“Clearly, a ‘new normal’ of social distancing, new hygiene standards and limited physical contact shall prevail into the future,” Marcos said, adding that these have forced various sectors to make major modifications in their policy to ensure compliance with social distancing measures.
Should the bill become a law, it would cover employees whose physical presence in the workplace is not necessary for the completion of their job and who have been with the company for at least one year.
If the physical presence of the employee is necessary for a particular task, she said “the employer may require his/her attendance in the workplace, within office hours and during weekdays, but not more than twice a week.”
“While the threat of the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to people’s lives remains present, alternative working arrangements are becoming a new normal in offices,” she said.
