The Department of Finance (DOF) is set to introduce a four-day workweek to alleviate the burden on its employees who are struggling with the intense traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
During the DOF anniversary celebration, Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto announced that the new department policy is scheduled to be implemented from May this year.
Recto explained that the goal of this policy is to enable employees to be more productive by saving their time and avoiding traffic stress.
“This is for you to be more productive by saving time and avoiding the stress of traffic,” Recto told the DOF employees Friday night, April 26.
He is also hopeful that DOF would become more efficient and productive as it adapts to the four-day workweek.
The DOF, however, is yet to release a memorandum that outlines how the four-day workweek policy will be enforced.
Under the regulations set by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), government workers are required to work for a total of 40 hours per week, which is equivalent to eight hours of work per day.
However, CSC Commissioner Aileen Lizada earlier said that the four-day workweek is allowed under a flexible work arrangement, wherein government employees must work for 10 hours per day for four days.
The CSC regulations for flexible work options were introduced in 2022.