Compressed working hours and shifting schedules are among the options for offices planning to adopt a 4-day workweek, the Department of Labor and Employment said Thursday as it expressed support for the proposal.
Implementation of the revised work schedule, however, will be the prerogative of employers. It also should not come at the cost of disruptions in public service, DOLE Usec. Benjo Benavidez told ANC.
Asked if the DOLE was in favor of a four-day workweek, Benavidez said: "Yes. If this is meant to save cost then I think the Civil Service Commission may want to issue guidelines on this."
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The National Economic and Development Authority proposed the adoption of a four-day workweek to reduce fuel and transportation expenses for workers as Filipinos struggled with soaring prices of fuel.
Government offices can schedule shifts for their employees to come to work on a Monday to Thursday schedule while others take up a Tuesday to Friday schedule to cover all weekdays, Benavidez said.
"Our public service should not suffer just because one day is less from our workweek," he added.
For private companies, adopting a 4-day workweek could mean compression of work hours or reducing the number of workdays, Benavidez said.
"Adopting a 4-day workweek is management prerogative. They are in the best position to determine whether their business or operation won’t be affected by implementing a 4-day workweek," Benavidez said.
Based on NEDA's proposal, workers still need to render 40 hours of work per week but instead of five-day workweeks made up of eight-hour shifts per day, it would be adjusted to four-day workweeks with 10-hour shifts each day.
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