4-day workweek studied to prevent spread of COVID-19
Published Mar 10, 2020 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling
The government is studying the proposed four-day workweek for its workers as another way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease, according to Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (Photo from Karlo Nograles / Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)
Following the surge in coronavirus cases in the country, Nograles said the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has started to look into a shorter work scheme in government agencies.
"As far as the Civil Service is concerned, they are discussing the adoption of a four-day workweek as one of the measures that the Civil Service can do in terms of government workers," Nograles, a member of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease, said in a television interview Tuesday.
For the private sector, Nograles said the Department of Labor and Employment recently issued a labor advisory that regulates flexi-work arrangement in offices.
He said the labor advisory seeks “to discourage businesses from laying-off and retrenching workers and adopting a flexi-work arrangement instead.”
Nograles recognized the impact of the coronavirus on businesses but expressed hope that employers would avoid laying-off workers. He said the disease outbreak is just temporary.
“At one point we will be able to control this. So what’s happening now in the tourism and travel industry would be considered temporary. Because it’s temporary we don’t need to retrench or fire workers," he said.
Meanwhile, Nograles said the class suspension in Metro Manila may be extended beyond March 14 depending on the country's health situation.
"We felt it best to just do it for this week and take a look at what the numbers will be tomorrow, the day after, all the way up to Saturday and we will make a decision whether or not to extend it," Nograles said.
The government earlier suspended classes at the National Capital Region until Saturday as a precaution against the coronavirus outbreak. Students have been advised to stay at home and study to avoid infection.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (Photo from Karlo Nograles / Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)
Following the surge in coronavirus cases in the country, Nograles said the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has started to look into a shorter work scheme in government agencies.
"As far as the Civil Service is concerned, they are discussing the adoption of a four-day workweek as one of the measures that the Civil Service can do in terms of government workers," Nograles, a member of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease, said in a television interview Tuesday.
For the private sector, Nograles said the Department of Labor and Employment recently issued a labor advisory that regulates flexi-work arrangement in offices.
He said the labor advisory seeks “to discourage businesses from laying-off and retrenching workers and adopting a flexi-work arrangement instead.”
Nograles recognized the impact of the coronavirus on businesses but expressed hope that employers would avoid laying-off workers. He said the disease outbreak is just temporary.
“At one point we will be able to control this. So what’s happening now in the tourism and travel industry would be considered temporary. Because it’s temporary we don’t need to retrench or fire workers," he said.
Meanwhile, Nograles said the class suspension in Metro Manila may be extended beyond March 14 depending on the country's health situation.
"We felt it best to just do it for this week and take a look at what the numbers will be tomorrow, the day after, all the way up to Saturday and we will make a decision whether or not to extend it," Nograles said.
The government earlier suspended classes at the National Capital Region until Saturday as a precaution against the coronavirus outbreak. Students have been advised to stay at home and study to avoid infection.