ILOILO — Despite growing calls for alternative work arrangements amid rising fuel costs and shifting workplace trends, no private company in Western Visayas has adopted a four-day workweek, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), confirming the slow uptake of a setup seen as a potential relief for workers.
While flexible work arrangements are allowed under existing labor policies, the four-day workweek remains optional and dependent on employer initiative, said Atty. Jorge Ferraris, officer-in-charge of the Technical Support and Services Division of DOLE Region 6.
“For instance, if a company traditionally operates on a six-day work week totalling 48 hours, it could compress that schedule into five days, requiring longer hours each day while still completing 48 hours,” Ferraris said.
Alternatively, companies might consider a four-day work week, provided it does not exceed a total of 40 hours for the week, to avoid triggering overtime pay obligations, he added.
Ferraris stressed that any shift to compressed or reduced workweeks would be subject to strict compliance checks by DOLE-6 to ensure workers’ rights and benefits are not compromised.
“If this happens, DOLE-6 will inspect whether the company complies with pay obligations and benefits despite the change in work schedule. Employers must adhere to the correct number of hours as stipulated in the original arrangement,” he said.
He emphasized that mutual agreement between employers and employees is essential before any flexible work scheme can be implemented.
“One of the requisites for implementing such arrangements is obtaining clear agreement from both parties. This agreement must be formalized and documented in a written contract to ensure clarity and commitment from all involved,” he noted.
DOLE-6 also requires companies to submit proper documentation and notices through its online portal to facilitate monitoring and enforcement.
“We need to ensure that employers submit proper notices or reports through our online portal. Our inspectors will monitor compliance, conducting inspections to verify adherence to the established flexible work arrangements,” he added.
While advocates point to the benefits of a four-day workweek — including improved work-life balance, reduced commuting costs, and increased productivity — Ferraris said no private firm in the region has formally reported adopting the scheme.
The absence of adopters comes even as proposals for compressed workweeks and staggered schedules gain traction, particularly as workers grapple with rising fuel prices and broader economic pressures.
For now, the four-day workweek in Western Visayas remains more of a concept than a practice, pending stronger employer buy-in and wider acceptance across the labor sector./PN
