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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 2 DATE:FEB 03 age
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriquez

House Bill No, 8624
EXPLANATORY NOTE

At present, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has allowed has allowed some
companies to go on a compressed workweek scheme. These arrangements give employers and
‘employees flexibility in fixing hours of work compatible with business requirements and the
employees’ need for a balanced work-life.

‘A compressed work schedule is basically one where employees maintain a full-time schedule
but in a fewer number of days than the traditional five days. An employee still works 40 hours
per week but in lesser number of days.

A compressed work week gives employees an additional day off which could result in better
workllife balance; it can also result in reduced transportation expenses and, in some cases, less
traffic as there would be less cars on the road; and it can also result in better productivity as the
daily work will have more continuity.

This proposed bill seeks to institutionalize the compressed work week scheme as it proves to
promote competitiveness, efficiency and productivity both in the labor and industry. It is likewise
important to emphasize that with the implementation of these voluntary work arrangement, there
would be no diminution of benefits received by the employees.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested.

RUF) Ce ropmjouez


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No. 8624

AN ACT
INCREASING THE NORMAL WORK HOURS PER DAY UNDER A COMPRESSED WORK
WEEK SCHEME, AMENDING ARTICLES 83, 87 AND 91 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO.
442, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, AS AMENDED

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Article 83 of the Labor Code, as amended, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“ART. 83. Normal hours of work. ~ The normal hours of work of any employee
shall not exceed eight (8) hours a day] EXCEPT IN CASES WHERE THE
ENTERPRISE ADOPTS A COMPRESSED WORK WEEK SCHEME, BUT
SHALL NOT EXCEED FORTY-EIGHT (48) HOURS A WEEK. THIS IS WITHOUT
PREJUDICE TO FIRMS WHOSE NORMAL WORK WEEK IS FIVE (5) DAYS, OR
A TOTAL OF FORTY (40) HOURS BASED ON THE NORMAL WORK DAY OF
EIGHT (8) HOURS. EMPLOYEES SHALL BE PERMITTED TO COMPLETE
THEIR WORKING HOURS ON A COMPRESSED WORK WEEK
WHEREBY THE NORMAL WORK WEEK IS REDUCED TO LESS THAN S!
DAYS BUT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NORMAL WORK HOURS PER WEEK
‘SHALL REMAIN AT FORTY-EIGHT (48) HOURS.

“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
(6) 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 shail be entitled to an additional compensation of at least thir
Percent (30%) of their regular wage for work on the sixth day. For purposes of this
Article; “health personnel” shall include resident physicians, nurses, nutritionists,
dietitians, pharmacists, social workers, laboratory technicians, paramedical
te » Psychologists, midwives, attendants and all other hospital or clinic

SEC. 2. Article 87 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, is hereby amended to read
as follows:

“ART. 87.Overtime work. — Work may be performed beyond eight (8) hours a day
OR FORTY-EIGHT (48) HOURS A WEEK provided that the employee is paid for
the overtime work, an additional compensation equivalent to [his]THE regular
wage plus at least twenty-five percent (25%) thereof. Work performed beyond eight
(8) hours OR NUMBER OF HOURS UNDER A COMPRESSED WORK WEEK


SCHEME on a holiday or rest day shall be paid an additional compensation
equivalent to the rate of the first eight (8) hours OR NUMBER OF HOURS UNDER
A COMPRESSED WORK WEEK SCHEME on a holiday or rest day plus at least
thirty percent (30%) thereof.

SEC. 3. Article 91 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, is hereby amended to
read as follows:

“ART. 91. Right to weekly rest day. —(a) It shall be the duty of every employer,
whether operating for profit or not, to provide each of [his] THE employees a rest
period of not less than twenty-four (24) consecutive hours after every six (6)
consecutive normal work. days. IN THE CASE OF A COMPRESSED WORK
WEEK SCHEME, A REST PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN FORTY-EIGHT (48)
HOURS BUT NOT MORE THAN SEVENTY-TWO (72) HOURS, AS THE CASE
MAY BE, SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THE EMPLOYEES.

“(0) The employer shall determine and schedule the weekly rest day of
[his]THE employees subject to collective bargaining agreement and to such rules
and regulations as the Secretary of Labor may provide. However, the employer
shall respect the preference of employees as to their weekly rest day when such

preference is based on religious grounds.”

SEC. 4, 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.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act be declared unconstitutional, the
remainder thereof not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, proclamations or
administrative regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

‘SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,