BY LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO
The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) is not in favor of the proposal seeking to reduce the weekly work schedule for workers in the private sector for 35 hours a week, saying it will only result to less income for employees.
“We are not in favor of it. The minimum working hours should still be 40 hours,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in an interview Sunday.
“If you reduce the working hours, the workers’ pay will also be reduced,” he added.
If the intention of the measure is to decongest traffic, Bello said, this can already be attained through other measures.
“If that is the intention, they can just opt for the flexible work arrangements and work from home scheme,” he said.
Defend Jobs Philippines also expressed opposition to House Bill 309 which was already approved on second reading at the House of Representatives last week.
“The proposed 35-hour work week is nothing but a clear attack to our Filipino workers’ wages, job security and benefits,” said Christian Lloyd Magsoy, Defend Jobs Philippines spokesperson, in a statement.
He said “the proposed bill will eventually be used to legitimize contractualization and massive termination of workers across the country.”
He also insisted that the proposal will aggravate awful existing practices of non-payment of overtime pays and other benefits of our workers.
Defend Jobs Philippines vowed to launch campaigns against the passage of HB309. (Leslie Ann Aquino)
