MANILA, Philippines — The national government suggested a four-day workweek to lighten the burden of Filipinos, who are now grappling with rising transport costs as global oil prices continue to rise.
READ: Proposal on four-day workweek up to management, DOLE says
This is what presidential candidates had to say about this pressing concern. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who frequently skips presidential forums, did not join the first debate sponsored by Comelec on Saturday.
Sen. Ping Lacson
Lacson said he supports the proposal to shorten the workweek in light of rising oil prices.
"I support this proposal. Imagine the savings in one day, for those who commute since they wouldn't need to. But we need to add hours worked in a day, instead of eight hours, let's make it 10 hours so that it totals 40 hours in one week," he said. "So that their daily wages are still the same. This is temporary."
Jose Montemayor
The lawyer and doctor cautioned against this proposal, arguing it would derail economic recovery efforts.
"It rings nice to the ears but do remember that we're still in a pandemic. The economy needs to be stimulated thru consumption spending, fiscal stimulus," he said. "The three days are a waste because if money is not circulating, the economy will be stagnant leading to stagflation."
Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno
Moreno said cutting the workweek should depend on which industry can afford it.
"I think it depends on the industry. If business process outsourcing, it could have one day working from home, that I agree. But we have industries that require a physical presence to create more productivity, efficiency in production," he said.
Ka Leody de Guzman
The labor leader said he was open to the suggestion, but workers should be paid for this overtime work.
"If you cut the workweek into four days, it should be treated as overtime. There should be a 30% overtime pay, it should not be as if those were just 1.5 days worked," he said.
Sen. Manny Pacquiao
Pacquiao agreed with Moreno that it should depend on which industry workers belong.
"Work could be expanded to 10 hours but we should remember that there are physically-taxing jobs. Workers might instead fall ill and miss out on work," he said.
"Our countrymen will suffer. Work arrangement should be hybrid," he added.
Sen. Ping Lacson
Lacson agreed with de Guzman that workers should be properly compensated.
"I agree with Ka Leody, they should be given overtime pay. What is needed as well are amendments to the labor code to allow workers so they won't demand overtime pay when they exceed working eight hours," he said. "Ka Leody is also right because it's problematic if we extend work to 10 or 12 hours in a day. Workers will demand overtime pay, which employers don't want."
Vice President Leni Robredo
Likewise, Robredo agreed with the labor leader's concern for workers.
"We need to make sure that workers aren't shortchanged out of their pay. The computation shouldn't be just four days pay but commensurate to their take-home pay," she said.
"I also agree with Sen. Pacquiao that we should hear out the concerns of workers and employers on which industries this set-up would work. But I agree that we should support this policy especially since oil prices are expensive these days," she added.
Former presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella
Abella said workers should be given pay equal to their take-home pay if the workweek is shortened.
"I think we're all in agreement that the public shouldn't be shortchanged. They should be given commensurate even if they're asked to have lesser workdays," he said.
Norberto Gonzales
The former Defense Secretary believes it depends on why this measure is being possibly undertaken.
"Depends on why we're doing a four-day workweek. We need to look at it carefully, why?"
Faisal Mangondato
Mangondato said there is a need to follow the letter of the law.
"We need to study this proposal. Because we all follow what is prescribed by the law. If we do that, work hours will be longer as what Ka Leody proposed so workers will get benefits to a long workday," he said.