Four-day workweek may affect workers’ health — ALU-TUCP

BELIEVING that it would do more harm to the workers than it would do good, the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) is opposing the proposed legislation to impose a four-day compressed workweek for employees.

The labor group instead suggested that it should be done through a department-level order or through the Department of Labor and Employment order where the work schedule scheme would only be voluntary for employees and implemented after consultations between management and the employees.

“Let’s make it simple and adaptable to circumstances unlike a legislation which is politically messy and hard to amend,” read the labor group’s position paper.

ALU-TUCP was referring to House Bill 6152, which was passed on third and final reading at the House. If enacted into law, the bill will institutionalize the implementation of the four-day workweek scheme “to promote efficiency and productivity in the workplace.”

Rep. Ray Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, one of the sponsors of the bill, cited long hours of transportation commute due to traffic may inflict health risks to workers and may cause them to be less productive.

But ALU-TUCP said that reducing the number of working days would not solve the traffic issue instead the proposed scheme might jeopardize the health and efficiency of the workers.

At present, employees are mandated to render 40 hours of service for public offices and up to 48 productive hours for private companies.