Photo Courtesy of Ka Leody De Guzman Facebook Page
MANILA, Philippines — Labor leader Leody de Guzman, who is running for president in the May 9 elections, is encouraging work-from-home arrangements even if Metro Manila and 38 other areas have been de-escalated to COVID-19 Alert Level 1.
The proposition of de Guzman, popularly known as Ka Leody, runs counter to the call of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, who is pushing for on-site work during COVID-19 Alert Level 1 in order to revive the economy.
“Dapat paalalahanan ang kalihim ng kalakalan at pamumuhunan na nanatili tayong nasa ilalim ng pandemya mula sa mikrobyong likas na mas lumilikha ng mga variant,” de Guzman said in a statement.
(The trade and industry chief should be reminded that we are in a pandemic due to a microbe that naturally creates variants.)
READ: Metro Manila, 38 other areas under Alert Level 1 starting March 1
READ: DTI encourages working on-site in Alert Level 1 areas to help revive economy
“Ang kanyang [attitude] na ‘business as usual’ sa usapin ng kaligtasan ng mga nagtatrabaho ay peligroso sa buhay ng tao,” he added.
(His attitude of “business as usual” in the issue of workers’ safety is dangerous to the people’s lives.)
According to de Guzman, there are sectors that do not require physically going to their workplaces such as office employees and call center agents.
He, however, said that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) should ensure that basic labor standards are being complied with for employees in work-from-home arrangements, especially that they even work beyond their hours at times.
READ: DOH: Keep work-from-home setup
“Subalit dapat tiyakin ng DOLE na sinusunod ang mga basic labor standards ng mga work-from-home employees, na karamiha’y higit pa sa walong oras kada araw ang itinatrabaho nang walang karagdagang overtime premium at benepisyo sa kabila ng malaking natitipid ng pinagtatrabahuang nilang mga kompanya sa mga overhead costs gaya ng ilaw, kuryente, renta, atbp.,” he said.
(The DOLE should assure that basic labor standards are implemented for work-from-home employees, who mostly work more than eight hours a day without additional overtime premium and benefits despite the huge savings of companies in overhead costs like light, electricity, rent, etc.)
He likewise proposed the provision of assistance to those unable to work and the improvement of internet connectivity.
“Ayusin din ng gobyerno ang connectivity issues ng mamamayan. Malaki ang potensyal ng ating labor force para makuha ang mga trabaho mula sa abroad kung aayusin lamang ang ating koneksyon sa internet,” he said.
(The government should also fix connectivity issues of the public. Our labor force has a big potential to get jobs abroad if our internet connection is improved.)
He said that workers like him should not be treated as an ordinary aspect of the economy’s recovery, noting that the labor force is a foundation of economic revival.
The labor leader also told the government to resolve concerns on mass transportation, including the expected increase in oil prices amid the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, a key crude producer.
READ: Bayan Muna pushes for oil industry regulation amid Russia-Ukraine crisis