Former Makati City Representative Monsour Del Rosario on Thursday called on the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) to reconsider its decision to push through with its order for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Information Technology (IT) companies to resume on-site work starting April 1.
Del Rosario, who authored the Telecommuting Act of 2018, also known as the "Work-From-Home" law, said the April 1 return-to-office deadline for BPO companies is "too inconsiderate and cruel."
Del Rosario, a senatorial candidate running under Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III's tandem, also rejected the FIRB’s warning to remove the tax-exempt incentives being enjoyed by BPOs if they do not comply.
As author of the “Work From Home” Law, the former lawmaker said he believes that the rights of workers to be able to perform their duties remotely must be upheld and supported, especially during this Covid-19 pandemic.
“I understand that the intention of the FIRB is to help revive our economy by having more people go out to support other businesses. But forcing BPO workers to go out while we are still in the middle of a pandemic is quite unreasonable," Del Rosario said.
“First and foremost, as leaders, we should always put the welfare of our people as our top priority,"
"Who’s going to suffer from this sudden imposition of a return-to-office deadline but the humble BPO workers who helped keep our economy afloat over the past two years? All the BPOs are asking for is a few months extension. Why is that so hard to give?” he pointed out.
Forcing the entire BPO industry to return to their offices immediately could have more negative effects rather than good, Del Rosario warned.
"One of the reasons why I pushed for the Telecommuting Act while I was in Congress is to help ease the traffic situation in the cities," he argued.
"Imagine if we bring everyone out again while our public transport system is currently being crippled by the rising fuel prices, then wouldn’t our BPO workers suffer more physically, mentally, and even financially?” he stressed.
Del Rosario added that threatening BPO firms with tax impositions, which would eventually lead to BPO companies imposing sanctions on their employees who will refuse to return to the office for valid reasons, are outright violations of the Telecommuting Act.
“The government should look into this matter more before it gets complicated," Del Rosario suggested.
"We shouldn’t allow any entity or government body to step on the rights of our people at any cost,” he emphasized.