PEZA: IT-BPO firms, locators can apply for 70-30 hybrid work scheme

Information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) companies and other PEZA-registered locators can apply for a 70-30 hybrid work arrangement that allows some of their employees to work from home.

In an interview with GMA News Online, Philippine Economic Zone Authority Director General Charito Plaza said that registered businesses can return to the regular 70-30 ratio, in which 70% of employees work on-site and 30% work remotely.

“Iniimbitahan natin ang IT-BPOs and other PEZA-registered business enterprises mag-apply kayo sa PEZA ng letter of authority (LOA) na gusto ninyo mag-avail nitong 70-30 work scheme… Pinapa-justify namin sa kanila ano ‘yung mga rason kung bakit gusto nila mag-avail ng 70-30 hybrid scheme,” she said.

(We invite the IT-BPO companies and other PEZA-registered business enterprises to apply for  a letter of authority if they wish to avail of the 70-30 work scheme. We ask them to justify the reasons for availing of the 70-30 hybrid scheme.)

Plaza reiterated that the PEZA supports hybrid work schemes.

The Fiscal Incentives Review Board earlier rejected calls to extend the 90-10 ratio in favor of work-from-home beyond March 31. 

This means that employees of IT-BPO companies operating in special economic zones must return to on-site work starting April 1.

The IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines earlier said employees had an “overwhelming” preference for a hybrid work arrangement.

The Alliance of Call Center Workers said last week that a "significant number" of workers in the IT-BPO sector are considering leaving their jobs after the government ordered a return to on-site duties.

Likewise, the Inter-Call Center Association of Workers said the government should consider the gradual return to the workplace as it called for a dialogue with Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to come up with a solution, adding they were not consulted before the order was released.

Plaza said the current administration leaves it to the next administration to take on the task of institutionalizing hybrid work schemes.— VBL, GMA News