It is right for presidential candidates to back alternative work arrangements

During the presidential debate sponsored by the Commission on Elections last March 19, the leading presidential candidates voiced their support for the possible implementation of a four-day workweek in response to rising fuel prices. Senator Manny Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso agreed separately that this may be applicable in certain sectors.

For his part, labor leader Leody de Guzman also backed to the proposal but stressed that overtime pay must be given for days employees are render more than eight hours of work. Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Panfilo Lacson supported his view. This renewed discussion on alternative work arrangement also comes at the heels of the government’s apparent intent to eventually mandate he resumption of on-site work in as many industries as possible.

The past two years has shown that a lot of jobs in many industries can actually be performed at home as long as there’s the necessary hardware and stable Internet connection. Educators, for example, even shouldered the cost of buying certain gadgets like headsets and ring lights to meet the demands of the work-from-home (WFH) setup.

However, with the number of active COVID-19 cases in the country now back down to pre-Omicron levels, the government through the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) announced in early March that business process outsourcing (BPO) companies should require their employees to work on-site effective April 1, 2022 lest they lose their tax breaks.