The Department of Labor and Employment and Employers Confederation of the Philippines clarify that private companies may implement flexible work options if agreed upon by both employers and employees.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) recently emphasized the permissibility and flexibility of alternative work arrangements within the private sector. Highlighted in a report by GMA News, both organizations agree that private companies can adopt flexible work schedules as long as there is mutual consent between employers and employees. DOLE referenced existing legal frameworks, such as the Telecommuting Law (Republic Act 11165), institutionalized in 2019, which supports alternative work arrangements.
Alvin Curada, Director of DOLE’s Bureau of Working Conditions, outlined options for a four-day workweek without sacrificing output, salary, or benefits. One option involves extending daily work hours beyond eight hours while maintaining the regular weekly workload. Another option retains Monday through Thursday as standard workdays, with Friday operating under a hybrid schedule.
Meanwhile, ECOP Chairman Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. underscored the importance of considering employee safety and productivity when implementing such arrangements, stressing that flexible schedules should not be compulsory but subject to study and agreement.
This position aligns with ongoing discussions about improving work-life balance and adapting to evolving workforce needs in the Philippine private sector.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/979150/private-sector-work-arrangements-flexible-say-dole-ecop/story/