A lawmaker has urged the private sector to adopt a work from home arrangement to minimize disruptions amid the spread of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV ARD).
Senator Joel Villanueva, who authored Republic Act No. 11165, or the Telecommuting Law, encouraged the employers to allow their workers to do their tasks outside the office especially if they are showing symptoms of flu.
Villanueva, who chairs the Senate committee on labor, employment, and human resources development, stressed the importance of flexible working arrangement to private sector by allowing their employees to work from home or anywhere outside the office, GMA News reported.
The Telecommuting Law institutionalizes telecommuting as a work arrangement and harmonizes its principles with the Labor Code.
He also called upon the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to issue a pertinent labor advisory reminding private companies to send home their employees who show symptoms of flu.
Villanueva also reminded employers of their obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) law.
“While the public’s awareness of the prevailing health scare concerning the novel coronavirus (nCoV) remains high, our labor officials should seize the moment to reiterate that the health and safety of our workers must be of paramount concern to employers. Our OSHS law states this principal clearly and unequivocally,” he stressed.
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