Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Francis Tolentino wanted the companies to give allowance to their employees working from home.
The two senators filed Senate Bill No. 1684 requiring employers to give a P1,000 allowance to their employees while they’re working from home.
It would amend the current RA 11165 or the Telecommuting Act.
“The onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced Filipinos to embrace the concepts of telecommuting and working from home,” the authors said.
“Working from home tends to increase utility consumption, particularly electricity. Residential energy use has risen due to more people staying at home. These additional expenses are out of the employee’s own pockets and for the benefit of the employer’s business,” they added.
COVID-19 pandemic raised the number of employees working from home after the government implemented community quarantine in the country.
While working from home put employees to a safer environment amid the pandemic, their expenses including utility bills increased.
“Assistance must be provided to the employees in order to cushion the impact of this new normal and make this practice sustainable,” they said.