Bill seeking at least P1k work-from-home allowance filed in Senate

A bill seeking to provide at least P1,000 monthly allowance to work-from-home employees was filed in the Senate on Monday.

Senate Bill No. 1684, authored by Senators Francis Tolentino and Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, aims to amend Republic Act 11165 or the Telecommuting Act.

It proposes that public and private sector employees performing tasks under an agreed work-from-home set-up should be compensated with a P1,000 telecommuting allowance every month.

These allowances granted by employers under the said provision shall be deductible to the firms' taxable income.

The proponents added that the proposed measure does not prohibit employers or the collective bargaining agreement from "providing terms higher or more favorable" than P1,000 per month.

The bill was an offshoot of the observation in previous months that the burden of additional electricity costs has been shouldered by work-from-home employees amid strict community quarantines. —LDF, GMA News