CSC: 4-day workweek in gov’t agencies voluntary

MANILA, Philippines - The Civil Service Commission (CSC) clarified yesterday that the four-day workweek option for government workers is purely voluntary.

CSC Chairman Francisco Duque III said “only government agencies in Metro Manila that meet the pre-requirements may begin implementing the four-day workweek scheme.”

He said agencies must submit to the CSC a notice of intent and certification that they have complied with the prerequisites.

Should a government agency opt to implement the shorter workweek, the new work schedule must be posted in front of the office premises and in the agency’s website 15 days before the start of implementation.

The CSC shall also post the names of agencies that will adopt the alternative work arrangement for the public to know.

Another important requirement is the monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment. CSC Resolution No. 1401286 identified the list of items that government agencies should monitor during the implementation of the four-day workweek.

An evaluation report must be submitted to the CSC six months, or earlier, after the start of the implementation to assess the benefits and disadvantages of the scheme and determine its viability in the long term.

Duque explained that for service not to be interrupted, there should be a one-month transition period during which a skeletal workforce for the frontline services offered by the agency should be present on the chosen no-work day.

The four-day workweek scheme intends to ease traffic in the metropolis and help affected government employees. But Duque said that as of Sept. 30, no government agency has formally submitted a notice of intention to adopt the alternative work scheme.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) is pushing for a shorter workweek as it has many benefits for the workers.

Jon Messenger, ILO Working Conditions Group’s team leader, said that a shorter workweek can reduce prevalence of cardiovascular and other work-related diseases.

Being overworked, he noted, can lead to cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal and reproductive problems, musculoskeletal disorders, chronic infections, mental health problems and even higher mortality rates.

“Moving to a four-day workweek would help to reduce these serious health issues and their associated costs,” he said.

Messenger also said that a shorter workweek would create more and better jobs and workers would become more productive.

He cited data indicating improved employment and productivity in Korea and Germany after the two countries adopted shorter workweeks in response to the global economic crisis. But in many countries where workers work the longest hours, they have posted relatively low labor productivity.

“Shorter workweek boosts workers’ motivation, lowers absenteeism, reduces the risk of mistakes and accidents, and discourages employee turnover. So cutting the workweek isn’t just good for workers, it’s good for businesses, too,” Messenger pointed out.

“Cutting back on the number of days that we work – and thus the number of times that we have to commute from our homes to our workplaces – is bound to save energy, reduce carbon emissions and ultimately make for a ‘greener’ economy,” he added.

A number of studies also identified regular long working hours as an important predictor of work-life conflict.

“This may sound obvious, especially to anyone with kids or elderly parents to care for, but the facts show that long workweeks can lead to more stress and anxiety at home.”

In contrast, a shorter workweek can increase overall life satisfaction or happiness, he said.

“Summing it all up, there are a lot of good reasons for reducing working hours and moving to a shorter workweek. If the workweek is already five days – as it is in most advanced economies – then moving to a four-day workweek doesn’t just make good sense, it is the next step in the long road to a happier, healthier, and more sustainable society,” he pointed out.  – With Mayen Jaymalin