The Ministry of Planning is currently drafting a national policy to keep one of the add-ons of the pandemic on a permanent basis – working from home (WFH).
Since mid-March last year, the private and public sector have been up-ended by the restrictions imposed by the government to combat the spread of covid19; however, the sectors have seen an increase in productivity from employees working remotely.
While significant segments of the private sector were closed, public servants operated on a rotation system, some worked from home while some services were shelved for months.
According to Andre Blanchard, acting director of statistics at the Central Statistical Office (CSO) for the second and third quarters of 2020, there were small but notable increases in productivity during work from home periods. Blanchard said the data collected is all that they have now.
“During the second quarter 2020, productivity (all employees) increased by 2.2 per cent over the first quarter, and (in) the third quarter productivity (all employees) increased by 0.5 per cent over that of the second quarter.”
He noted that a fall in production accompanied by a similar fall in the hours worked will leave productivity unchanged, which means that falling production may not lead to falling labour productivity. Based on data collected, he added that during the WFH periods, manufacturing and extractive industries were largely unaffected.
Sunday Newsday reached out to the Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis for data on productivity levels during the work from home periods in a bid to identify the pros and cons. In an e-mailed response she said a WFH policy will target both the public and private sector.
Asked if WFH, which is being used now in both public and private sector could, remain in effect post-pandemic, Robinson-Regis said: "My government is giving urgent attention to the best methodology that can be applied to facilitate increased productivity, stimulate the economy, enhance the lives of our citizens and residents while simultaneously doing what is needed to eliminate the spread of the virus. To this end, we, at the Ministry of Planning and Development commenced the process for the development of a national work from home policy. A consultant will be hired to undertake the project and it will involve consultation with various stakeholders, including public officers and their unions to determine the way forward. “
She said the International Labour Organisation (ILO) pledged its support. Public Servants Association president Watson Duke said the union, being one of the biggest stakeholders in drafting such a policy, must play an integral part in it. Duke said if there is no meaningful involvement with the union then the policy will remain a useless document unless it is made law.
“Work from home, as you can appreciate, would require a robust digital environment, including infrastructure, skill redevelopment and systems redevelopment. The recent creation of the Ministry of Digital Transformation will be
