By Pearl Gumapos
Amid the proposed implementation of four-day workweek where workers will be working for 10 hours a day, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said labor over eight hours is considered overtime.
“Generally, the rule should be – any hour in excess, any work in excess of eight hours is overtime at kailangan magbayad ng overtime pay,” DOLE Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez said in the March 21 Laging Handa public briefing.
“Sa usapin na kung bayad ba ang sahod, dapat bayad. Ano mang minuto o oras ng pagtatrabaho, bayad po iyon. Pero may provision tayo sa Labor Code of the Philippines na anumang oras na lampas sa walong oras, ito ay tinatawag natin overtime work. At dahil ito ay overtime work, kailangan may karampatang pagbabayad ng overtime pay,” he explained.
Benavidez said that the four-day workweek will help in mitigating the effects of the price hike of petroleum products, and that the working arrangement is nothing new and has been implemented since 2020.
“Mainam na may ganitong panukala para na rin matulungan natin iyong mga manggagawa, lalong-lalo na na tumataas ang presyo ng gasolina at iba pang commodities,” Benavidez said.
“Ang four-day work week ay hindi po ito bago. Ginamit natin ito noong nakaraang krisis na pang-pinansiyal at ginagawa din ito ng ibang mga pribadong kumpanya,” he added.
Benavidez also said the implementation of the four-day work week is a management prerogative, although there is a possibility that it may become a policy of the government. -ag
Watch the full interview here:
