The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Monday, March 21, that it favors the recommendation to implement a four-day workweek set up for workers in private and public sectors amid the increasing prices of oil products and commodities.

According to Labor Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez, the proposed work arrangement will benefit workers from both sectors affected by the ongoing pandemic and global crisis.

“Alam niyo po mainam na may mga ganitong panukala para matulungan ang mga manggagawa lalong lalo na dahil tumataas ang presyo ng gasolina at commodities (This setup will benefit workers affected by the increasing prices of oil products and commodities),” Benavidez said over Laging Handa briefing.

He clarified that this type of alternative work arrangement had already been implemented by private entities and the public sector upon the management and government’s discretion.

“Ito ay isang special work arrangement Pinayagan po dito na i-we-waive ng workers yung overtime premium pero ito po ay tinatrato natin na exception rather than the general rule (This is a special work arrangement wherein we allow workers to waive overtime premium, but this is considered as an exception rather than a general rule),” he said.

Benavidez explained that employers might compress the 48-hours week schedule into four days to avoid salary decreases.

In the case of wage hikes, Benavidez said that six regions have already submitted their petition to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) for review.

“Most probably siguro mga May or June magkakaroon po ng desisyon ang mga board pero meron pong petitions na lately lang na-file bukod sa na-file na sa RTWPBs (Most probably the Boards will release their decision on May or June but some petitions are submitted just recently),” he said.