71% of survey respondents favor 4-day work week

This letter pertains to Neal Cruz’s Oct. 1 column titled “Ejercito: Will the 4-day work week work?” With due respect, allow us to clarify some matters on the proposed work scheme.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) promulgated CSC Resolution No. 1401286 dated Sept. 8, 2014, re: Adoption of the Four-Day Workweek Scheme in Government Agencies in Metro Manila. The scheme is an alternative arrangement whereby the normal work week is reduced to four days but the number of work hours per day is increased from eight hours to 10 hours, still totaling to 40 hours per week.

The four-day work scheme is not mandatory but voluntary. Agency heads are granted the blanket authority to opt to implement the alternative work scheme, given that the agencies meet the pre-requirements of the policy.

Also, the work scheme is aimed at addressing concerns of employees who are experiencing the effects of the heavy traffic caused by the Skyway Project. It is the CSC’s mandate to ensure employee welfare. Easing heavy traffic in Metro Manila, on the other hand, is not a function of the CSC.

The CSC conducted a survey from February to May this year to find out the preferred alternative work arrangement of employees in light of the traffic situation in Metro Manila. The survey results showed that 71 percent of the 1,644 respondents from more than 62 agencies in the National Capital Region and Region 4 preferred the four-day work week.

We understand that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to any problem. The policy is intended to provide an alternative work scheme for government agencies, yet still ensuring that the government provides uninterrupted service in light of technological and infrastructure disruptions.

We hope this clarifies the matter.

—FRANCISCO T. DUQUE III, MD, MSc, chair, Civil Service Commission