Senator Joel Villanueva on Wednesday backed the proposal of the country's economic experts to implement alternative work arrangements, particularly the work-from-home scheme, to cushion the impact of the continuous oil price hike on Filipinos.
Villanueva, chairman of the Senate committee on labor, employment, and human resources, said implementing flexible work arrangements, as proposed by National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), is "one of the best interventions that the government can do because it protects productivity for businesses and workers' welfare while cutting fuel consumption."
"The Telecommuting or Work From Home Law has been relevant even before the pandemic started, as skyrocketing fuel prices is one of the main reasons why we pushed for this to become a law," the lawmaker said, renewing his call for the Labor Department to work with business owners to fully implement the Work From Home Law, which has been in existence since 2018.
"We have yet to see the end to the problems of traffic and high price of fuel, and WFH (work from home) is one way for industries to adjust and cope," he added.
Villanueva, a reelectionist, said he also supports NEDA's recommendation to implement a four-day work week to keep the economy afloat despite the rising cost of fuel that may soon affect the commuting and travelling workers.
Previously, Villanueva filed Senate Bill No. 153, which would allow businesses to implement alternative work arrangements, such as a reduction of workdays. If elected again, Villanueva said he will pass the measure during the next Congress.
"Businesses and workers are already familiar with alternative work arrangements by this time. It is our job to empower them into contributing to the national economy without the burden of fuel prices and the daily commute. This also gives our workers the opportunity to spend their wages on needs other than transportation costs," he said.
That way, the lawmaker added, "we balance the need for businesses to continue growing despite the oil crisis, and we help with the work-life balance for our workers."