Joint foreign chambers ask government to limit holidays

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) today asked the government to limit the number of non-working holidays in the country.

Ebb Hinchcliffe, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, said the JFC is concerned that the many holidays are affecting the business of foreign companies in the Philippines.

"We're still pursuing the 15 days (holidays) only,"said Hichcliffe.

The group, in partnership with multinational companies in the Philippines, is coming up with a study that assesses the impact of "too many"holidays in business.

The study will gather feedback from different foreign companies operating in the Philippines such as Philip Morris Manufacturing Philippines Corporation and Chevron/Caltex.

"These holidays have a cost, for one it is affecting the competitiveness of the Philippines,"said Hinchcliffe, who added that companies are still paying added overhead costs in operations and labor even during holidays.

The JFC has recently met with the Philippine Labor Department and discussed a number of concerns including that group's stand on non-working holidays.

Currently, there are 18 regular and special non-working holidays.