The bill seeking to institutionalize the compressed work scheme for business competitiveness, work efficiency and labor productivity was approved on its third and final reading this week by the House of Representatives.
According to the amended Articles 83, 87 and 91 of Presidential Decree No. 442 also known as Labor Code of the Philippines, the House Bill 6152 intended to add the normal work hours per day under a compressed work week scheme.
“Art. 83. Normal hours of work. – The normal hours of work of any employee shall not exceed eight hours a day except in cases where the enterprise adopts a compressed work week scheme, but shall not exceed 48 hours a week. This is without prejudice to firms whose normal work week is five days, or a total of 40 hours based on the normal work day of eight hours.”
“Employees shall be permitted to complete their working hours on a compressed work week scheme whereby the normal work week is reduced to less than six days but the total number of normal work hours per week shall remain at 48 hours.”
The bill author, Baguio City Representative Mark Go, stated in the reading that DOLE allowed companies to implement compressed work weeks.
“These arrangements give employers and employees flexibility in fixing hours of work compatible with business requirements and the employees’ need for a balanced work-life,” Go said.
Meanwhile, with the Article 87, employees who worked beyond 8 hours should be paid for the overtime work.
“Work performed beyond eight hours or number of hours under a compressed work week scheme on a holiday or rest day shall be paid an additional compensation equivalent to the rate of the first eight hours or a number of hours under a compressed work seek scheme on a holiday or rest day plus 30 percent thereof.”
Also they were given right to weekly rest day, as stated on the Article 91.
“It shall be the duty of every employer, whether operating for profit or not, to provide each of the employees a rest period of not less than 24 consecutive hours after every six consecutive normal work days. In the case of a compressed work week scheme, a rest period of not less than 48 hours but not more than 72 hours, as the case may be, shall be provided to the employees.”
The bill required the Secretary of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to publicize the rules and regulations (IRRs) within 90 days of its implementation. | Angelica Bobiles – PTV
