Manila – Mr. Patrick Patriwirawan, Jr., chief of the Employment Research Division of ILS, was one of the key presenters during the 2021 Midyear Business Economics Briefing hosted by the University of Asia and the Pacific. The online forum with the theme, “Winners and Losers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact on the Macroeconomy, Industry, Human Resources and Policy Initiatives,” was held last July 14 as a key initiative of the university’s Business Economics Club.

Mr. Patriwirawan’s presentation on “Telecommuting and Alternative Modes of Work Arrangement and Policy Interventions on HR Challenges in the Workplace,” was based on the 2020 ILS research titled “A Rapid Assessment of Telecommuting Practices Prior and During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which was written by Joyce Anne S. Lumactud, Supervising Labor and Employment Officer and Franchesca Rose S. Castillo, Labor and Employment Officer III from the Employment Research Division (ERD).

The ILS study analyzed telecommuting trends and practices prior and during COVID-19 pandemic, in aid of developing an operational framework for companies to adopt in times of emergency situations (e.g., pandemic).

The study highlights that employers may also consider flexiblity in work hours, rather than flexibility in the place of work, because certain job functions are not “telecommute-able.”

The study also points out that social dialogue is important, particularly in formulating industry/sector-specific guidelines covering matters such as eligibility of employees, costs and rights and benefits of telecommuting employees.

Mr. Patriwirawan was joined by Mr. Victor A. Abola, Ph.D., Director of the Strategic Business Economics Program (SBEP) School of Economics, UA&P, who gave a presentation on “Post COVID-19: Philippine Macroeconomic Performance and Prospects,” and Ms. Lovelaine Basillote, Executive Director of the Philippine Business For Education Foundation (PBEd), who shared her paper on “Education in Crisis: A Call to Private and Public Sector Initiatives.”

For more information on the ILS research on telecommuting, you may download the full paper via this link: https://ils.dole.gov.ph/exploring-telecommuting-as-the-new-normal-work-arrangement-a-rapid-assessment-of-telecommuting-practices-prior-and-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/