Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 3952 
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, AND 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to the 2024 TomTom Traffic Index, several Philippine cities are among the 
most traffic-congested in the world.1 As a result, many Filipino workers endure long commuting 
hours, increasing transport expenses, and reduced opportunities for rest and family life. These 
daily burdens take a toll not only on productivity but also on the health and overall well-being 
of employees. 
In response, this bill proposes to amend Articles 83, 87, and 91 of Presidential Decree 
No. 442, otherwise known as the Labor Code of the Philippines, to formalize and 
institutionalize the Compressed Work Week (CWW) scheme. The proposed arrangement 
allows employees to work more than eight (8) hours per day, provided that the total number of 
work hours shall not exceed forty-eight (48) hours per week. This offers an alternative to the 
rigid “8-hour-a-day” rule, accommodating the flexible and evolving nature of modern work 
environments. Under the CWW, employees may enjoy up to three consecutive days off, and 
any work rendered beyond the prescribed 48 hours remains subject to overtime pay in full 
compliance with labor standards.  
Beyond helping workers achieve better work-life balance, reducing commuting days 
through the CWW scheme also helps lessen traffic congestion, decrease fuel consumption, 
and help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, issues that continue to plague Metro Manila and 
other urban centers.  
Moreover, this measure aligns with Republic Act No. 11165, or the “Telecommuting 
Act,” which promotes flexible working conditions through telecommunication technologies. 
In view of these economic, environmental, and workforce realities, the immediate 
passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
1 Valmonte, Kaycee (2025, February 19). Philippine cities with worst traffic congestion in 2024. Rappler.com. 
https://www.rappler.com/business/philippine-cities-worst-traffic-congestion-in-2024/ 
August 26, 2025
8:00 am


HON. VINCENZO RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE 
HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 3952 
Introduced by HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. VINCENZO 
RENATO LUIGI R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA, AND 
HON. TERRY L. RIDON 
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, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
LABOR CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Article 83 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, 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 SCHEME WHEREBY THE NORMAL 
WORK WEEK IS REDUCED TO LESS THAN SIX (6) 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 (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, nurses, nutritionists, dietitians, pharmacists, social 
workers, laboratory technicians, paramedical technicians, psychologists, midwives, 
attendants and all other hospital or clinic personnel.” 
SECTION 2. Article 87 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, is hereby amended 
to read 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.” 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
“(b) 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.” 
 
SECTION 4. Implementing 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 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. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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,