MANILA -The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) is still pushing for work-from-home (WFH) eligibility for businesses registered under the investment promotion agency, saying that the matter remains a key concern for businesses looking to invest in the country.
Peza Director General Tereso Panga on Tuesday said the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines Inc. have brought up the concern recently during the organization’s annual general meeting held earlier this month.
“Their clamor is for Peza-registered business enterprises to be able to avail of flexi-work with incentives following the same treatment for Board of Investments-registered business enterprises,” he said in a message sent to reporters.
“In Peza, we are pushing for hybrid workplace with maximum 30 percent allowance for work-from-home by our locators. Most of our locators would like to keep their Peza registration and sites, while availing of flexi-work for their workers,” Panga said further.
One of the requirements under Peza is that registered firms conduct their business operations inside designated zones to avail of tax perks.
To recall, the interagency Fiscal Incentives Review Board issued a decision in September of last year which offered Peza registered firms to transfer their registration to the BOI in order for them to continue work from home arrangement while remaining eligible for tax incentives.
Since April of 2022, registered business firms under Peza were given temporary leeway in their work arrangement until September, continuing to enjoy tax incentives despite 30 percent of their employees working from home because of difficulties caused by the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Panga said that Japanese enterprises continue to be a huge contributor to the Philippines’ economic zones, which highlights the importance of giving ample government support to these companies.
To date, there are a total of 884 Japanese enterprises in Peza, which has contributed a total of P745.637 billion investments and directly employ 345,807 workers, said the Peza official. INQ
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