Workers lukewarm to 4-day workweek

The country’s largest labor organization yesterday expressed concern over the proposed four-day workweek, saying that it could lead to lower take home pay for workers.

“While employers are going for the proposed compressed workweek, workers nationwide would rather work five days a week,” Alex Aguilar, spokesman for the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said.

“Most companies in the country have a ‘no work no pay’ policy, so if they would implement it, workers would have no salary for a day.”
Aguilar, however, said that workers are open to discussing the issue seriously so that reduction in pay could be prevented.

“We are willing to abide by such policy if they could ensure that workers will still be getting their just payment,” he stressed.

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) earlier expressed their support for the planned revival of the four-day workweek for the government and a similar scheme in the private sector.

ECOP president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said the compressed workweek scheme would complement government efforts to reduce energy and fuel consumption in the wake of rising crude prices in the world market.

But Ortiz-Luiz said the policy must be selective and implementing guidelines would have to be clear that it is not compulsory.

“We are for it, but it should not entail additional expense for employers. We in ECOP have been consistent in saying that there must be no diminution of benefits.” –Mayen Jaymalin, Philippine Star