NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
Senate
■22 JUL-7 P3 «5
SENATE
S. B. NO. 134
RlXEIVcD BV:
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
ALLOWING THE ADOPTION OF ALTERNATIVE WORK 
ARRANGEMENTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
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 of the benefits of adopting flexible work arrangements. 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.
In fact, a research project funded by the Economic Social Research 
Council based at the University of Kent in England, entitled Work Autonomy, 
Work Flexibility and Work Life Ba/ance” showed that when managers allow 
workers more discretion or more control over their work, they deliver better 
performance outcomes or better productivity.
Considering the proven benefits of flexible work arrangements, this bill 
seeks to institutionalize the adoption of voluntary work arrangements if 
national emergency requires or as mutually agreed upon by the employer and 
the employee. This bill also emphasizes that the adoption of voluntary work 
arrangements shall not result in the diminution of the existing benefits of the 
employees, and the existing laws on the payment of overtime pay, night shift 
differential and other benefits shall not be violated.


With this measure, the employer and the employee are given greater 
liberty to agree on a work arrangement that would fit their needs and 
preferences.
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATORJ


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
Senate
o{ tl)c ^rfrrtarp
•22 JUL-7 P3:05
RtCEIVtD BV;
SENATE 
S. B. NO. 134
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
ALLOWING THE ADOPTION OF ALTERNATIVE V^ORK 
ARRANGEMENTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 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 cf the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. A new Article 83-A is hereby inserted in the Philippine Labor
2 
Code, as amended, to read as follows;
4 
“ARTICLE 83-A. ADOPTION OF VOLUNTARY WORK ARRANGEMENT
5 
- WHEN NATIONAL EMERGENCY REQUIRES OR WHEN THE
6 
PARTIES MUTUALLY AGREE, THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE
7 
MAY ADOPT A VOLUNTARY WORK ARRANGEMENT: PROVIDED,
8 
THAT HOURS OF WORK SHALL NOT EXCEED FORTY-EIGHT (48)
9 
HOURS A WEEK; PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IT SHALL NOT
10 
RESULT IN THE DIMINUTION OF EXISTING BENEFITS AND THE
11 
RIGHT TO OVERTIME PAY CONSISTENT WITH ARTICLE S7 OF THE
12 
LABOR CODE, NIGHT SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL CONSISTENT WITH
13 
ARTICLE 88, AND OTHER BENEFITS IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW
14 
SHALL NOT BE VIOLATED.”
15
16 
SEC. 2. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of Labor and Employment,
17 
in consultation with relevant stakeholders shall promulgate the necessary
18 
implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of
19 
this Act.


2 
SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If any part of this Act shall be held
3 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts not otherwise affected thereby shall
4 
remain in force and effect.
5
6 
SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, resolutions, orders, or
7 
ordinances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
8 
amended or modified accordingly.
9
10
11
SEC. 5. Effer.tivlty. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in one newspaper of general circulation.
12
13 Approved,