The law said telecommuting refers to a work arrangement that allows an employee in the private sector to work from an alternative work place with the use of telecommunication and/or computer technologies.

The new law stated that “an employer in the private sector may offer a telecommuting program to its employees on a voluntary basis, and upon such terms and conditions as they mutually agree upon provided that such terms and conditions shall not be less than the minimum labor standards set by the law, and shall include compensable work hours, minimum number of work hours, overtime, rest days, and entitlement to leave benefits.”

It added that the employer should “provide the telecommuting employee with relevant written information in order to adequately surprise the individual of the terms and conditions of the telecommuting program and the responsibilities of the employee.”

Under the “fair treatment” provision of the law, it said telecommuting employees must be given the same treatment as that of those employees working at the office in terms of rate of pay, right to rest periods, regular holidays, and special non-working days, same or equivalent workload, same access to training and career development opportunities, appropriate training on the technical equipment, collective rights as the workers at the employer’s premises, and shall not be barred from communicating with workers’ representatives.

The law also provided for the establishment of a telecommuting pilot program in select industries for a period of not more than three years. /jpv/muf