SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Second Regular Session
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
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RECLIV..D BV.
Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
AMENDING ARTICLE 83 OF THE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES,
AS AMENDED
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Given the increasing complexity of work, there is now a growing 
recognition on the benefits of veering away from the conventional work 
setup and into a more flexible work arrangement. 
Flexibility in the 
workplace allows employees to find an arrangement where they can 
best fulfill their work obligations given their respective situations. It also 
allows an employer to accommodate the uniqueness in the backgrounds 
and capacities of its employees without compromising their productivity. 
Workplace flexibility therefore allows both employer and employee to 
find a mutually beneficial arrangement of work that works best for both 
parties.
One way to adopt a flexible work arrangement is to provide an 
option for compressed workweek. 
Under the standard work week, a 
worker is required to render eight (8) hours of work for five (5) days. In a 
compressed workweek arrangement, the employee may opt to reduce 
the number of days dedicated to work, provided that the worker 
maintains the minimum number of hours required. 
Compressed 
workweek arrangement will not only reduce cost of work transit, but will


also enable employees to allocate more time for other personal and 
social obligations, thus further promoting work-life balance.
Towards this objective, this bill seeks to institutionalize the 
adoption of alternative working arrangements, such as compressed 
workweek. To allow for a shortened workweek, this bill amends Article 
83 of the Labor Code of the Philippines to accommodate work duration 
that exceeds eight (8) hours per day. 
Nevertheless, the bill limits the 
work duration to forty-eight (48) hours per week to safeguard the rights, 
health, and well-being of each employee. 
With this measure, an 
employee is given greater liberty to allocate his work hours to the 
number of days that works best for his situation.
The passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
EL VILLANUEVA


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Second Regular Session
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1571
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•17 AUG 29 PI :30
RECEiViU a . .
Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
AMENDING ARTICLE 83 OF THE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES*
AS AMENDED
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled
SECTION 1. Articles 83 of the Philippine Labor Code, as amended, is hereby 
amended to read as follows:
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ARTICLE 83. Normal Hours of Work. -  The normal hours of work of any 
employee shall not exceed eight (8) hours a day[.] EXCEPT WHEN THE EXIGENCY 
OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS OR NATIONAL EMERGENCY REQUIRES THE 
ADOPTION OF ALTERNATIVE WORK ARRANGEMENTS SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS 
AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY THE SECRETARY OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT IN 
APPROPRIATE REGULATIONS ENSURING THAT HOURS OF WORK SHALL NOT 
EXCEED FORTY-EIGHT (48) HOURS A WEEK, AND THE RIGHTS, HEALTH 
AND WELL-BEING OF THE EMPLOYEES ARE PROTECTED.
Health personnel in cities and municipalities with a population of at least one 
million (1,000,000) or in hospitals and clinics with a bed capacity of at least one 
hundred (100) shall hold regular office hours for eight (8) hours a day, for five 
(5) days a week, exclusive of time for meals, except where the exigencies of the 
service require that such personnel work for six (6) days or forty-eight (48) 
hours, in which case, they shall be entitled to an additional compensation of at 
least thirty percent (30%) of their regular wage for work on the sixth day. For 
purposes of this Article, "health personnel" shall include resident physicians.


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nurses, 
nutritionists, 
dietitians, 
pharmacists, 
social 
workers, 
laboratory 
technicians, paramedical technicians, psychologists, midwives, attendants and all 
other hospital or clinic personnel.
SECTION 2. Rules and Regulations. -  The Secretary of Labor and Employment 
shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) 
days from the effectivity of this Act.
SECTION 3. Separability Clause. -  If any part of this Act shall be held 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts not otherwise affected thereby shall remain in 
force and effect.
SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. 
All laws, decrees, resolutions, orders, or 
ordinances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended 
or modified accordingly.
SECTION 5. Effectivity. 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in one newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,