WFH requires new legislation

With the lockdown and isolation on account of the Covid-19 pandemic, most workers had to work from home (WFH). 

This novel system of working from home, no doubt, has a lot of advantages for both the employers and the employees. There are disadvantages too. Some had to work long hours as some worked even late into the night.

For some, the salaries were halved and they do have to forego the perks such as fuel allowances, overtime payments (if any). Their mandatory leave entitlements of annual and casual leave of employees in some establishments were set off against the days the employees couldn’t attend the workplace as a result of the curfew. There are issues with even EPF, ETF payments as well. Layoff of employees on contract and probation during this period of crisis was the norm.

This is to suggest to the Minister of Labour to pass new legislation in consultation with the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon and the Trade Unions as soon as possible with regard to WFH in the new normal – what the minimum emoluments should be, the minimum number of compulsory hours to work, clock in and clock out time, how much compensation/golden handshake be paid when terminating employees, whether the usual leave entitlement could be set against absenteeism (because of the imposition of curfew and lockdown enforced to contain the epidemic) and several other issues faced by both the employers and the employees with the ongoing pandemic.

Mohamed Zahran Colombo