Sinabi ng Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) sa information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) companies na nag-o-operate sa special economic zones na kailangan nilang sundin ang utos ng pamahalaan na balik on-site work simula sa Abril 1, 2022 o papatawan sila ng multa.
Sa pahayag nitong Martes, sinabi ni PEZA Director General Charito Plaza, na dapat sundin ng mga investment promotion agency’s locator ang pasya ng Fiscal Incentives Review Board’s (FIRB).
Nakasaad sa Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) ng Section 2, Rule 22 ng Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Law, na "Any violation of the provisions of the law, including other related revenue regulations, orders or issuances of the government shall result in revocation or suspension of the incentives or business closure of registered business enterprises."
Ibinasura ng FIRB ang mga kahilingan na palawigin ang remote work arrangement na magtatapos sa Marso 31. Dahil dito, kailangan nang magbalik sa kanilang tanggapan ang mga manggagawa simula sa Abril 1.
Nauna nang sinabi ng PEZA na iaapela nila ang pasya ng FIRB.
Samantala, sinabi ng Department of Finance (DOF), ang parent agency ng FIRB, na maaaring ipagpatuloy ng IT-BPO companies sa economic zones ang WFH setup pero mawawala sa kanila ang natatanggap na tax incentive tulad ng income tax holidays at 5% tax on gross income earned.
Nakasaad sa Republic Act 7916 o the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995, lahat ng registered companies na nag-o-operate sa ecozones ay dapat makinabang sa tax incentives.
Sa Chapter 3, Section 23 ng RA 7916, nakalagay na, “business establishments operating within the ecozones shall be entitled to the fiscal incentives as provided for under P.D. No. 66 or those provided under Book VI of Executive Order No. 226, otherwise known as the Omnibus Investment Code of 1987."
“The allowance of the 90:10 WFH (work-from-home) setup was just a temporary measure during the pandemic. Now that we’re reopening the economy, we’re going back to the regular ratio required of registered business enterprises (RBEs) inside the ecozones,” ayon kay Plaza.
“Hence, PEZA abides by the decision of the FIRB for 100% on-site work for IT-BPOs, while there is a need to review and establish a legal framework in order to implement a hybrid work model,” patuloy niya.
Sinabi pa ni Plaza na, “at present, PEZA cannot change the ratio unless the laws will be amended to incorporate the adaptation of the hybrid schemes. In the future, we hope to follow the practice of India and the other countries and provide specific ratio on WFH and on-site work arrangements.”
“PEZA supports the hybrid work scheme as it’s been proven effective in the last three years of pandemic. What we can do is to recommend this for the next administration to address. As of now, we have to abide by the existing laws and the decision of the FIRB and help to put the economy back to normal,” patuloy pa ng opisyal.
“[W]e hear the concerns of our investors and their individual workers affected by this order; however, we need to follow the regulations as mandated by the law,” dagdag pa niya.
Nauna nang sinabi ng IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines na marami sa mga manggagawa ang nais ng hybrid work arrangement.
Nitong nakaraang linggo, inihayag ng Alliance of Call Center Workers na "a significant number" ng mga nagtatrabaho sa IT-BPO sector ang ikinukonsidera na umalis sa trabaho kapag natuloy ang return to on-site duties.
Nanawagan din sa pamahalaan ang Inter-Call Center Association of Workers na dahan-dahanin sana pagbabalik sa opisina ng mga manggagawa.— FRJ, GMA News