Jinggoy reminds DOLE: Ensure benefits, allowances under hybrid work model

UniTeam Senatorial candidate Jinggoy Estrada. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines — Former senator and UniTeam senatorial bet Jinggoy Estrada on Friday urged the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to ensure that workers under the hybrid or work-from-home setup are paid proper benefits and allowances.

Estrada made the call amidst the growing number of Filipinos choosing a hybrid home-office scheme or exclusive work-from-home set up due to fear of COVID-19 and difficulty of commuting to and from work.

“If an employee chooses to work from home, employers must pay them proper compensation, benefits and allowances. While workers enjoy the benefits of not leaving home, their employers also save on utility costs like electricity and water, as well as office rental,” Estrada said.

As this developed, the former senate president pro tempore expressed alarm over the growing number of Filipinos quitting their jobs amidst the pandemic.

Citing a study by Sprout Solutions, a Filipino software company, Estrada said the number of Filipinos voluntarily quitting their jobs in 2021 jumped by as much as 70 percent. Most affected are the following sectors: professional, scientific at technical services whose attrition rate spiked by 273%;  construction, 120%; arts and entertainment 207%; and information and communication industry, 117%.

He said the most common reason cited for the mass resignation include sudden changes in the work set up; lack of work-life balance; salary deductions; and anxiety over job security.

Estrada said a growing number of Filipino workers prefer the hybrid work model which they see as a safer alternative. These workers believe that it is safer to work from home since they can avoid possible infection while inside public transportation and their place of work.

“While many choose to work from home, it doesn’t automatically give employers the right to cut their salaries and benefits,” he stressed.

Once elected to a fresh senate term, Estrada said he will file a bill that will clearly define and establish rights and obligations of workers and their employers under the hybrid work model. “Workers and employers deserve protection. ‘While there are a lot of exploitative employers, there are also abusive workers,’” Estrada said.

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