Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH (17") CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

8826

HOUSE BILL NO."

Introduced by Representative Manuel Monsour T. Del Rosario [IT

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This proposed Flexible Work Arrangements Bill espouses alternative working
arrangements that allow both employer and employee to agree on a beneficial arrangement of work
that works best for both parties.

It amends Article 83 of the Labor Code which limits normal hours of work at 8 hours a day
for five days.

Under the proposed measure, an employer has an option to implement any type of flexible
working arrangement which includes: 1) Compressed Workweek, 2) Gliding or Flexi-Time, and
3) Flexi Holidays Schedule.

Ina “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 rendered
hours required. The bill sets a minimum of 40 hours a week and a maximum of 48 hours per week.

“Gliding or Flexi-Time” refers to work which may be completed within the establishment
but where they can determine their arrival and departure time. It means an employee may choose
to start his work at any time he wants but still needs to complete the required work hours per day.
Meanwhile, "Flexi Holidays Schedule" is where employees agree to avail the holidays at some
other days provided there is no diminution of resulting benefits.

This bill limits the work duration to a maximum of 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.

This bill is also one way to decongest traffic and lessen the hassle faced by employees as
they may opt not to go to work on a specific workday granting that they have already completed
the required work hours.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is fervently sought.

tt
MONSOUR T. DEL ROSARIO IIL


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH (17") CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. CEES

Introduced by Representative Manuel Monsour T. Del Rosario II

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF FLEXIBLE WORKING HOURS, AMENDING
FOR THIS PURPOSE ARTICLE 83 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 442 (LABOR
CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, AS AMENDED), AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Flexible Working Hours Act
of 2018”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of the Use of Flexible Working Hours as a State Policy. —It is hereby
declared the policy of the State to institutionalize measures aimed at reducing vehicular traffic by
reengineering work schedules in both government and private sectors in order to restructure the
travel time of commuters without affecting the delivery of public service or the operations of
businesses.

SEC. 3. Amendment. ~ Article 83 of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, is
hereby further amended to read as follows:

“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 WELLBEING 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, nurses,


nutritionists, dietitians, pharmacists, social workers, laboratory technicians,
paramedical technicians, psychologists, midwives, attendants and all other
hospital or clinic personnel.”

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations, — The Secretary of Labor and Employment
shall promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act, or the application
thereof to any person or circumstances, is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining sections
of this Act or the application of such provision or part hereof to other persons or circumstance shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or
parts thereof 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 two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,