On March 16, when the
state of national emergency began to curve the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Executive Branch issued
Urgency Decree No. 026-2020 to regulate remote work in public and private sectors as an exceptional and temporary measure.
Remote work allows employees to work from home (or the place of home isolation) using any means of distance communication (computer, telephone, among others).
To do so, the urgency decree allowed employers to modify the place where employees work so as to implement the remote work initiative during the public health emergency, without affecting the nature of the employment relationship, the remuneration and other economic conditions of workers.
Then, in early May, the Government of Peru issued
Legislative Decree No. 1505, which establishes exceptional measures in Human Resources Management in the public sector and provides that remote work will continue until December 31, 2020 in the case of State-owned companies.
Recommendations
In this sense, the MTPE released a set of recommendations in the fields of safety and health:
- The employees should choose —within the place of isolation— an exclusive space to carry out their tasks and thus avoid distractions.
- Drawing up a timetable and setting deadlines to achieve the goals outlined is advisable.
- There should be adequate ventilation and lighting in the working area.
- The workspace should be equipped with all the necessary tools.
- Workers should take into account preventive ergonomic measures.
- Giving a 10-minute break after 50 minutes of work in front of the computer is recommended.
- Workers should inform their family members of their working and resting times.
(END) CNA/JJN/RMB/MVB
Published: 6/23/2020