THE unfinished saga involving the information technology business process management (IT-BPM) sector and the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) is a battle of mostly good intentions. The FIRB argues that 100-percent on-site work will enable faster economic recovery and provide support to the network of micro, small and medium enterprises — transport and food services, for example — surrounding IT-BPM companies. On the other hand, outsourcing firms are conscious of their employees' preference for remote and hybrid work, to the point that forcing on-site work might lead to mass resignations across the industry. The situation led to a compromise: for Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) registered IT-BPOs and registered business enterprises (RBEs), 30 percent work-from-home (WFH) has been allowed until Sept. 12, 2022, provided that firms request a letter of authority. The question that remains, however, is what happens after September 12? Will there be an available workforce willing to report on-site? Will it be a choice between tax incentives and employees?
It is important to stay updated on developments in this story because it is the best signifier for what is to come in terms of post-pandemic realities. Surveys show that 87 percent of global leaders expect to be more flexible in working arrangements, with 72 percent of companies planning to offer a hybrid option. But as easy as it is to say that remote work — whether in fully remote or hybrid format — is here to stay, government and institutional support remain vital in determining the ease of hybrid adoption and normalization.
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