Dole 7, Talisay City set 4-day work week starting March 16

THE Department of Labor and Employment-Central Visayas (Dole 7) and its attached agencies will implement a four-day work week starting on Monday, March 16, 2020, as part of their measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Under Dole’s Administrative Order 99, series of 2020, Dole offices nationwide and their attached agencies were mandated by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III to work only from Monday to Thursday.

“Employees must render not less than 10 hours of work a day, exclusive of meal periods. They may report to work anytime from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and may end work anytime between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. after completing a 10-hour workday,” the order states.

In his order, Bello said the four-day work week is in compliance with Presidential Proclamation

No. 922 of President Rodrigo Duterte, declaring a state of public health emergency in the entire country.

Aside from Dole offices, also included in the order are the central and regional offices of the Philippine Overseas Welfare Administration, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Professional Regulation Commission, and the National Labor Relations Commission.

Dole employees who fail to render the required 10-hour work day will be considered working undertime.

Meanwhile, Talisay City, Cebu Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr. will also implement the four-day work week starting Monday, March 16.

In his post in his Facebook page Friday, March 13, Gullas declared the move as a precautionary measure against the threat of Covid-19 and following the declaration of the nationwide public health emergency of President Duterte.

The measure is in compliance of Memorandum Circular 7, series of 2020 issued by the Civil Service Commission.

“Based on the policy, the workload of our city employees will be reduced to four days, but the number of work hours per day is increased to 10 hours, thus the total number of required work hours per week shall not be less than 40 hours,” he stated in his post.

He added that Talisay City Hall will still be open from Mondays to Fridays but still have a four-day work week since their employees will have a schedule of three rest days after working for four days at 10 hours per day.

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella, on the other hand, has not implemented a four-hour work week in Cebu City Hall yet.

“We will have to look into that, but as of this time there is a law that a 49-hour working schedule must be observed,” he said.

As of Thursday, March 12, Dole 7 reported a total of 3,965 employees affected by both the flexible work arrangement and temporary closure of establishments due to Covid-19.

Of the number, 3,901 workers were affected by the flexible work arrangements implemented in 38 establishments in the region, while 64 were affected by the temporary closure of two establishments in Cebu.

Salome Siaton, Dole 7 director, said the top four most affected industries are manufacturing, hotels, massage services and restaurants. (HBL, WBS, JCT, JJL/ JKV)

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