Brazilian government regulates teleworking in public administration

President Jair Bolsonaro announced on Tuesday (May 17) that he will publish a presidential decree establishing the possibility of remote work in public administration. The change is foreseen in the rules published by the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic that establish the Performance Management Program for Civilian Personnel with presential or remote work.

The proof of attendance for public agents who agree to carry out their functions remotely will be the periodic delivery of demands, the document reads. The possibility of remote work can be full or part-time, and employees must be available for telephone calls – including the external public – during the entire working day.

An increase in productivity for those who choose remote work is expected. The possibility of one working from abroad shall also be introduced, but only for a limited period of time, and in “restricted cases”. The remote work regime shall follow the interests of the public administration.

The remote work policy focuses on results-oriented administration and seeks greater transparency in relation to activities carried out by the public administration and its agents, the General Secretariat’s statement reads.

According to the Brazilian government, this measure shall have an impact on the productivity of the civil service, as it establishes a working model “oriented towards results and increased efficiency.”