Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1670

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill intends to help ease the worries of employees in commuting to work by
allowing alternative working arrangements. Employers are allowed the option to
implement a type of flexible working arrangement that fits the needs of their
company and their employees. This allows employees to have a flexible work
schedule that fits their personal needs.

In amending Article 83 of the Labor Code, we remove the limiting “normal work
hours” from 8 hours a day for five days to a more flexible work duration. This means
that employees may clock in to work at any time as long as they complete the
required number of hours. The bill also proposes to put a ceiling on the maximum
number of working hours to 48 hours per week in order to protect the well-being of
employees.

With the recent enactment of Republic Act 11165, or the Telecommuting Act, which
allows workers to clock in hours through partial or total substitution of computers of
telecommunication technologies, it is this representation’s hope that this proposed
bill adds to the intent of the Telecommuting act in providing employees the
opportunity to be productive in the workforce no matter the situation they may find
themselves in. It also hopes to ease and decongest the traffic situation in Greater
Manila and lessen the stress of both citizens and the government

The approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

LUIS RAYMUN' ” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1670

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F, VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
AMENDING ARTICLE 83 OF THE 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. Articles 83 of the Philippine Labor Code, as amended, is hereby
amended to read as follows:

“ARTICLE 83. Normal Hourse 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 PREDETERMINED 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, 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. - Should any provision herein be declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this
Act.

SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations
or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect in fifteen (15) days after

Publication in the Official Gazette or in one (1) newspaper of general circulation in
the Philippines.

Approved,