Teleworking is becoming popular in Costa Rica and more public and private companies choose to use it.
Carlos Villalta, Minister of Public Works and Transportation, declared that taxi drivers’ demonstration unintentionally provided a possible solution for traffic jams.
While taxi drivers were closing streets, many public and private workers stayed at home, but they were working and performing their duties. As consequence, streets were empty in San José, which allowed travel times to be much shorter.
According to the Ministry of Labour, through its National Telework Program, in the public sector there are about a thousand officials who perform teleworking.
Jorge Llubere, program coordinator, explained that that is the number of people registered in the program, but last Tuesday they realized that there are more unregistered people working from home.
Among the institutions implementing it there are ICE, Government Accountability Office, CNFL, People’s Bank, National Bank, Institute of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (IAFA), among others. However, private enterprises are also promoting this program.
The government plans that by 2018 there are 4000 public officials performing telecommuting permanently, which would greatly decrease the number of cars in the metropolitan center. In addition, one of its goal is to also reduce spending on rentals for state institutions.