Duterte mulls 4-day workweek

[Mike J]

With all the holidays I thought they already had a four day work week.  

https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/03/17/news/national/duterte-mulls-4-day-workweek/1836582

MALACAÑANG is studying the proposal of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to implement a four-day work week and extend the work-from-home (WFH) arrangement to cushion the impact of the steep climb of fuel prices on Filipinos and the economy, Palace acting spokesman Martin Andanar said.

"Iyan po ay under consideration ng ating Pangulo. Ito pong mga panukala na ito ay in case na tumaas pa ng husto ang presyo ng langis sa pandaigdigang merkado (That is under consideration by the President. These measures were proposed in case oil prices in the global market rise further)," Andanar, also the head of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, said.

NEDA Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua on Tuesday proposed decreasing the number of workdays to limit the mobility of workers and soften the blow from skyrocketing fuel prices on the economy.

Chua proposed a 10-hour, four-day workweek as an alternative to increasing minimum wage.

"Let us try to conserve energy and one of the examples here is through the four-day workweek. Every Filipino will still have to work 40 hours per week but instead of five days, it will be four days, and instead of eight hours, it will be 10 hours per day," he said during President Rodrigo Duterte's "Talk to The People" on Wednesday.

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The official said that the same arrangement was implemented in 2008 when fuel prices increased.

"This will also help save money because instead of commuting every day, they will be commuting for four days only. This will also help manage our economy," Chua said.

He warned that the combined inflationary impact of the fare and minimum wage hikes may increase inflation by 1.4 percentage points, which could drive inflation beyond the government's 2 percent to 4 percent target this year.

Chua said that increasing the minimum jeepney fare by P1.25 will also cause inflation to go up by 0.4 percentage points.

"According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, our inflation rate is projected to hit 3.7 percent. If we add the 0.4 percentage points, this will be 4.1 percent," he said.

Increasing the minimum wage by 6 percent or P39 per day in the National Capital Region will also cause inflation to go up by 1 percentage point.

"Higher inflation rate is a tax on all and leads to higher interest rates. We will all be affected by the faster increase in prices," Chua said.

The Labor department said that implementing the four-day workweek requires no new law.

It can be implemented anytime by employers in consultation with their employees, Labor Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez said on Wednesday.

"Under the Labor Code of the Philippines, the normal work week is six working days, but the employer can reduce it to five, four or three days. It is a management prerogative," he added. "So the proposed four-day work week does not need a law anymore to be implemented."

Benavidez said that in support of the NEDA proposal, the Labor department can possibly come out with guidance in the form of a labor advisory to guide employers on the nitty-gritty of the new work arrangement.

"In my opinion it can help but at the end of the day, the decision will not be made by the Labor department but by the employer and their workers if they wish to implement such a work arrangement," he said.

Senators Emmanuel Joel Villanueva and Panfilo "Ping" Lacson supported the NEDA's to implement alternative work arrangements to address rising fuel costs.

"Implementing flexible working arrangements like working from home is one of the best interventions that the government can do because it protects productivity for businesses and workers' welfare while cutting fuel consumption," Villanueva said.

The reelectionist senator renewed his call on the Department of Labor and Employment to work with businesses for the full implementation of the Work From Home Law, which was enacted in 2018.

"We have yet to see the end to the problems of traffic and high price of fuel, and WFH is one way for industries to adjust and cope," Villanueva said.

Lacson said that shortening the workweek "is a good idea because at least three days [worth of fuel cost] would be saved."

[manofthecoldland]

Most of these suggested remedial after thoughts and proposals are the typical reactive responses we have come to almost expect.... proposed solutions that either will not work or will only add to what ever the current problem is.

The real problem facing Filipinos now is how to survive and deal with the rapidly increased cost of local transportation in the face of their static income levels.

[Gator]

19 minutes ago, Mike J said:

Lacson said that shortening the workweek "is a good idea because at least three days [worth of fuel cost] would be saved."

I understand the logic behind his statement and it likely would save some energy, but not as much as he thinks. Does he sincerely expect that Filipino workers will just stay home for 3 days and count the pesos they are saving on transportation costs? No, they will be flocking to the malls, beaches and Karaoke parties. 

[BrettGC]

Employers actually paying the minimum wage nationwide to those employed in the industries it targets would go a long way to alleviating the pressure on household incomes caused by the fuel price hikes.  It is supposed to apply nationally, enforceable by legislation, but employers are using the excuse "We're not in Manila so it's cheaper to live" and getting away with it.  

[Dave Hounddriver]

35 minutes ago, Mike J said:

"This will also help save money because instead of commuting every day, they will be commuting for four days only. This will also help manage our economy," Chua said.

Sounds like faulty logic.  The business will be open the same number of days per week, lets say 7.  So employee 1 will only commute 4 days a week but there must be an employee 2 who commutes the other 3 days.  Net result = someone is commuting every day.

[jimeve]

An extra day of hip-hop and karaoke. GREAT. 

[Clermont]

They'll never get that through, you mean to say they want them to work 4 days, never happen.

[Peaceful John]

On 3/16/2022 at 2:15 PM, Dave Hounddriver said:

Sounds like faulty logic.  The business will be open the same number of days per week, lets say 7.  So employee 1 will only commute 4 days a week but there must be an employee 2 who commutes the other 3 days.  Net result = someone is commuting every day.

You're exactly correct Dave.  It's not only faulty, it's just downright dumb logic, and as with most ideas/decisions coming from that direction, this proposal lacks long term thought or factual evidence that it would do anything BUT help save costs or energy.  It would succeed in taking a slow and unproductive government agencies and make them even slower and more unproductive.  In regards to corporate and private businesses, most would either ignore it or devise a way to reduce employee pay even more.  Most businesses and some gov agencies, already have their hours set at what is most profitable for them.  Forcing them into a 10 hour schedule will only create lag time or unprofitable time.  This scenario has  been "table topped" by hundreds (even thousands) of countries, businesses, etc. over the years, and, after a many hours of study and research, most all of them have found it more costly, less productive, and ultimately a financial loss instead of improvement. Now, after a couple of Johnnie Walker Red's, our hero comes up with a 4 day week during the election season to suggest  a reduction of work days, but improved financials.  Great idea! 😎

[Jollygoodfellow]

16 hours ago, BrettGC said:

Employers actually paying the minimum wage nationwide to those employed in the industries it targets would go a long way to alleviating the pressure on household incomes caused by the fuel price hikes.  It is supposed to apply nationally, enforceable by legislation, but employers are using the excuse "We're not in Manila so it's cheaper to live" and getting away with it.  

Wages are different from region to region so for example Manila has the highest minimum wage where say Dumaguete will be lower. And thats how they work it out that it is more expensive to live in Manila. 

[graham59]

Some REAL JOBS and CAREERS lasting more than 6 months would be nice... and less ridiculously massaged 'employment' stats.