A PROPOSED measure that seeks to prevent employees from working during their rest hours was filed at the Senate.
The bill was filed in favor of workers who are working under either a “work from home” setup or doing telecommuting using email, telephone, chat and video apps.
In filing Senate Bill No. 2475 or Workers’ Rest law for employees, the objective of Senator Francis Tolentino in his proposed measure is to prevent employers, managers or supervisors from ordering employees to perform work during his or her rest hours while at the place of work, and to perform work outside of an employee’s work hours.
Work hours pertain to an eight-hour work every day except if there is an agreement where the employee will perform overtime work that must be compensated by the employer as mandated by law.
Under the proposed law, employees must not be ordered to travel, attend seminars, team building and other similar activities during an employee’s rest day.
Employees are also not allowed to be called or sent messages during their rest hour, except when advised about an emergency or urgent work.
Also, employees should not be penalized if they are not able to reply or open any form of communication received during their rest hours.
Once passed into law, an employer or superior will pay a P1,000 fine for every hour of work rendered by an employee during rest hours.
Employers can also be charged with grave coercion if the order to work is accompanied with violence, threat or intimidation.
If the coercion will affect the employee’s performance of his or her work, the employer or company official may also face one to six months’ imprisonment.
In filing the bill, Tolentino, it recognizes the benefits of work-from-home and telecommuting arrangements but it also affects the personal space and personal time that employees also need.
Tolentino assured that the bill does not cover domestic helpers, those performing personal services, and field personnel not covered by regular work hours,