4-day workweek to be decided by companies in the Philippines

The Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) gave the government’s stance on adopting a four-day workweek, saying it is the prerogative of the management of establishments to make this decision.

National Economic Development Authority chief Karl Chua has said, “We should try conserving our energy and one example is to have a four-day workweek. They can also save up because they won’t have to commute every day, and this will help us manage the economy. Each Filipino will still work 40 hours per week. But instead of five days, it will be four; instead of eight hours a day, it will be 10 hours a day.”

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Labour Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez reiterated the government’s position, saying, “We can appeal to the private sector to implement [it] because again, it’s management prerogative, they have to decide on this and it’s within their sole jurisdiction…but we can only encourage, not obligate the private sector to adopt four-day workweeks. The Labour Code of the Philippines does not provide the minimum number of working days in a week.”

Benavidez added that in the DOLE, all government workers are required to come in for on-site work, according to Philstar Global.