Longer work hours, fewer work days. Is it time for the Philippines to shift to a 4-day work week? 

The municipality of Binmaley, Pangasinan is taking the plunge this week as it adopted a 4-day work week from April 22 to June 30, 2024 to protect employees against extreme heat.

In a Facebook post, the Binmaley LGU said work hours starting April 22 will be 8 AM - 6 PM, Monday to Thursday. Offices will be closed on Fridays.

The following offices, however, will observe the regular office and field work schedule: 

Office of the Economic Enterprise and Slaughterhouse

MDRRMO

Utility Workers

Waste Management

Traffic Management

According to the Civil Service Commission, government workers are required to work 40 hours in a week or about 8 hours a day.

CSC Commissioner Atty. Aileen Lizada said the 4-day work week is allowed under a flexi work arrangement wherein government employees must render 10 hours of work for 4 days.

“10 hours ang empleyado sa opisina. Pwede rin ang x number of hours in the office, x number in the satellite office or home,” she said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

“But these government agencies, hindi pwedeng one day ay walang tao sa opisina. Kailangan may tao pa rin para humarap sa transacting public,” she added.

Lizada said CSC regulations for flexi work options were issued in 2022 and can be used in times of disasters, calamities or even a heat wave.

She said the CSC cannot say if a compressed 4-day work week would be a good fit for all offices.

For his part, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines secretary-general Arnel Z. Dolendo said he has no problem with a 4-day work week as long as employees are compensated fairly. 

He said that under the law, employees should only render work for 8 hours before overtime kicks in.

He noted, however, that the long 10-hour workday can be taxing for employees.

“Ngayong sobrang init, ano kaya ang mangyayari sa mga manggagawa kung pahahabain ang oras? Kung gagawing sampung oras kakayanin ba ng tao? Ano ang epekto sa kalusugan?” he said.

He also noted that in terms of savings, he doubts companies will be able to save if a 4-day work week is implemented.

“Walang magagawa sa matinding init ng panahon kasi natural phenomenon ‘yan. Pero kung energy saving ang pag-usapan, ‘yung 2 oras na idinagdag mo, gagastos ka rin ng kuryente. Sa tingin namin, ang consumption, pareho lang,” he said.