President Carlos Alvarado has signed a law giving legal certainty to the 12,000 teleworkers in the country. Telecommuting started in the private sector back in the ‘90s and caught on in the public sector in 2006.
There hasn’t been any law, however, to regulate it or protect the workers or companies, until now. Still, many opted for it because it saves so much money and time normally spent on commuting. The estimated savings is ₡320,000 for transportation and ₡270,000 for the employer for the physical space and services.
Some of the aspects of the new law include details that must be in the contract, such as the schedule, whether the worker can be called in for meetings, that the employer must pay the costs for internet and computer programs, and how the employee will be evaluated.
One teleworker explained that he enjoys the flexibility that his employer offers with teleworking. It allows him to spend his time eating breakfast with his kids and going to the gym instead of sitting in traffic jams for hours.
