Public officers and civil servants are increasingly moving toward a model that blends remote work with on-site requirements. In depopulated or hard-to-staff regions, a substantial portion of monthly shifts could be performed remotely, provided the roles are classified to permit telework. During a recent appearance at a congressional session, the Minister of Finance, Maria Jesus Montero, outlined the government’s aim to advance this arrangement within the public sector. The negotiation table for Public Function is examining an upcoming decree focused on expanding remote work across civil service roles.
At present, to conserve energy, a decree already enforces a three-day telework pattern and two days of in-person work for many positions. Montero clarified that the government intends to progressively regulate teleworking across the Civil Service, moving toward broader, standardized adoption.
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In the wake of a no-confidence query raised in Parliament, Montero noted that the first step is to catalog which jobs can be performed remotely and which roles necessitate physical presence. Each ministry should develop a consistent cataloging framework for every job, with uniform practices applicable to public administrations and municipalities. This preliminary analysis would unlock teleworking for up to 90% of monthly workdays for employees residing in depopulated areas or locations facing recruitment challenges. In other words, those workers could complete the majority of their duties from remote sites, subject to the findings of the initial study, while ensuring service continuity for all public groups.
The government’s plan also highlights initiatives to improve regional connectivity. Expanding broadband and telecommunications infrastructure across these regions is viewed as essential to enabling sustained telework in challenging settings. [Citation: Government communications on public sector teleworking policies]