The rest of the world took a pause because of COVID-19, but for employed folks, working never stops. It means taking your laptop home, creating a makeshift office in your room, and hoping your earphones are blocking out nearby noise because really, it's the last thing you want in a virtual meeting.
For almost four months, Filipino employees have been timing in online to get work done and while the costs of working from home didn’t seem too big at the start, they eventually pile up. Your electricity, internet connection, and even the purchase of additional equipment can amount to a hefty price tag you didn’t sign up to pay for. If you’ve been wanting an allowance or some form of help from your company, it seems the government has heard your rants.
On July 14, a bill seeking to provide at least P1,000 monthly allowance to employees working from home was filed.
Authored by Senator Francis Tolentino and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Senate Bill No. 1684 would amend Republic Act 11165, or the Telecommuting Act.
Under the bill, public and private sector employees following a work-from-home arrangement should be given a 1,000-peso telecommuting allowance every month.
The allowances provided to employees would be taken from the firms’ taxable income.
The amount of P1,000 is the minimum, and employers are not barred from providing higher or more favorable monthly allowance amounts or compensation.
