The national government is on the right track in pushing for the adoption of “alternative work arrangements” (AWAs) this year as part of efforts to sustain gains in reducing unemployment and underemployment in the country.
The National Economic and Development Authority is in the forefront of this initiative. Economic Planning Secretary and concurrent Neda Director General Arsenio Balisacan said the government “remains committed to achieving its employment targets under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 by having a “multifaceted approach in place to ensure an efficient labor market.”
Hence, the government would facilitate the adoption of AWAs to account for workers’ evolving preferences while considering the emerging demands of both the public and private sectors.
The NEDA plan to adopt flexible work set-ups comes close on the heels of the drop in unemployment and underemployment figures in November last year. This indicates that the labor market continues to be robust.
NEDA has yet to provide details on what AWA it intends to push this year to boost productivity and adapt to changing work environments while promoting employee well-being.
But the agency’s stance is based on findings of the National Evaluation Portal report released in 2023 that recommended modified work set-ups following the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of these is the Telecommuting Act of 2019 that allows private sector employees to perform their duties remotely, further supporting the shift toward flexible work setups.
Another is the flexible work arrangements that may include variations in hours, work locations and skill sets. We have also implemented other forms: work from home; work from a satellite office, or work from another fixed place.
The Civil Service Commission has also outlined several alternative work arrangements for government agencies, which include WFH; skeleton workforce; four-day (compressed) workweek; staggered working hours, and flexible (fluctuating) work schedules.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Department of Labor and Employment was already exploring flexible work time systems, with workers choosing from three work schemes: ‘compressed work week’, where employees work fewer days a week but for longer work hours; ‘gliding or flexible time schedule’, where employees may choose their shift or time of work; and ‘flexible holiday”, where employees may choose their days off.
After the pandemic gave rise to flexible work schemes, NEDA underscored the need for employers to offer jobs with either WFH or hybrid setup to adapt to changing employee preferences. This was also intended to ensure that companies can hire top talents who prefer such arrangements.
But an important requirement to maximize the benefits of alternative work arrangements is to improve the country’s digital infrastructure.
At present, the number of Filipinos with internet access out of the total population stood at 89.34 percent in 2024 and could increase to 98 percent by 2029.
We’re wary of the accuracy of these statistics, considering our archipelagic character and poverty levels across regions, but we should really exert utmost efforts to expand our digital infrastructure in the years ahead.