With the growing mental health crises acquired from the pandemic plus the workload brought by the comforts of one’s home, Sen. Francis Tolentino authored a bill that seeks to prohibit companies from requiring their employees to work after-hours as this may add more to the existing struggles of working Filipinos.
Jen, 28, a resident of Brgy. Sta. Monica who is currently working at home for a private company in Makati expressed joy upon hearing about the proposal.
“Masaya ako kasi marami rin talaga akong mga kaibigan na nahihirapan nang matulog kasi laging on-call for duty sa work nila, kumbaga nawawalan na talaga sila ng oras sa sarili nila and given nga na nasa malalaking company sila, di rin naman sila maka-complain, kaya okay rin talaga ‘tong bill na ‘to,” she told Palawan Daily.
Under the proposed law, the employers will be prohibited from giving “rest-hours work” to their employees, exceeding the 8-hour maximum work hours, unless the employee consents.
In the bill, the employers will also be discouraged from contacting their employees and that the employees’ refusal to answer their employer’s calls will not lead to a reprimand.
However, excluded from the bill are domestic helpers, field personnel, persons in personal service, and employees who are only per output or accomplishment.
“Instead of de-stressing at home from the pressures of work, work is now brought to the employees’ homes or wherever they go. Similarly, due to advances in technology, employees are now virtually always at the beck and call of their employers,” the Senator explained.
An employer violating it stands to pay P1,000/hour of work rendered by the employee, likewise will face a “grave coercion” case if the employer threatens or intimidates their staff, facing a penalty of six months in prison and a fine up to P100,000.