THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday, November 2, 2020, urged the corporate sector to adopt multiple and staggered hours to allow workers to start and finish work at different times.
"Some may start at 7 a.m. while others at 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and so on,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a statement.
The recommendation is contained in the joint advisory issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of the Interior Local Government (DILG) and the DOLE.
Bello said the move aims to allow more workers to report for work while complying with physical distancing requirements.
Through this measure, Bello said they also expect traffic congestion to ease and the demand for public transportation to decrease.
"With more Filipinos reporting for work, there will be more activities that can perk up commerce and trade," Bello said.
He stressed that this does not mean that DOLE is already doing away with the work-from-home policy.
"Work-from-home arrangements and other flexible workplace plans are still encouraged by the government," said Bello.
To note, the national government has gradually eased lockdown restrictions in recent months as the country shifts its path from total risk avoidance to risk management and further reopening of the economy. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)