DOLE implements 4-day work week due to COVID-19

March 12, 2020

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is implementing a four-day workweek for agencies under it amid the threat of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Under Administrative Order No. 99-2020 Wednesday night, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III ordered all offices, services, bureaus, regional offices, and attached agencies the department it to implement a four-day workweek immediately.

"All offices/agencies shall observe a four-day workweek, which shall be from Monday to Thursday, instead of working for five days a week, and work schedule from 7 am to 7 pm," said Bello.

Under the four-day workweek scheme, Fridays shall be the day-off of all employees.

The order also provides employees must render not less than 10 hours of work a day, exclusive of meal periods, and they may report for work anytime from 7 am to 8 am and may end work anytime between 6 pm and 7 pm after completing the 10-hour workday.

It added that employees, who report for work beyond 8 am, shall be considered tardy, while those who do not complete 10 hours in one workday shall be considered as undertime.

The AO said the official lunch break shall be maintained at 12 noon to 1 pm, regardless what time employee reports for work.

One day of absence, the Order said, shall be considered as a 10-hour absence and shall be deducted proportionately from the employee's leave credits.

The Order said employees, who are required to report for work on their scheduled day-off, shall be entitled to 1.5 days compensatory time-off.

The DOLE said the directive is pursuant to President Rodrigo Duterte declaring a State of Public Health Emergency throughout the Philippines in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

It is also in accordance with the Memorandum of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) urging all government agencies to implement either or both a four-day work week and a shifting work schedule due to the threat of COVID-19.

Last week, the DOLE called on private establishments to consider adopting alternative work arrangements for their employees, saying it is better than the outright termination of employees or total closure of the companies adversely affected by the outbreak. DMS