Shorter workweek implemented

MANILA, Philippines – Some commercial establishments are now implementing a shorter workweek to help them cope with the financial crisis, according to organized labor.

The militant Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) warned that the shorter workweek could be a prelude to a possible mass layoff of workers, particularly those employed in manufacturing firms.

Dennis Sequenia, PM secretary-general for Cavite, said workers in three plants of American Power Conversion, an electronics firm in Cavite, are now working only four or five days a week.

“From the normal six working days, the 5,000 workers in the three plants are now reporting for work only for four or five days since the start of this month,” he said.

Sequenia said some firms are even operating for just two days a week and are offering voluntary retirement packages for senior workers.

Three other firms in Cavite have laid off a total of 1,400 workers and already adopted shorter workweeks since September, he added.

Sequenia said a majority of the displaced workers from the Export Processing Zones are women and breadwinners of their families.

“The workers affected in this recent reduction in workforce and workdays exclude those close to 1,000 workers affected by the wave of closures six months ago,” he said.

Sequenia called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to make public the latest data on closures and retrenchment of workers so appropriate assistance can be given to the affected workers.