Most workers work for 5 to 6 days a week or 8 hours a day as required by the Labor Code of the Philippines.
Art. 83. Normal hours of work. The normal hours of work of any employee shall not exceed eight (8) hours a day.
Health personnel in cities and municipalities with a population of at least one million (1,000,000) or in hospitals and clinics with a bed capacity of at least one hundred (100) shall hold regular office hours for eight (8) hours a day, for five (5) days a week, exclusive of time for meals, except where the exigencies of the service require that such personnel work for six (6) days or forty-eight (48) hours, in which case, they shall be entitled to an additional compensation of at least thirty percent (30%) of their regular wage for work on the sixth day. For purposes of this Article, "health personnel" shall include resident physicians, nurses, nutritionists, dietitians, pharmacists, social workers, laboratory technicians, paramedical technicians, psychologists, midwives, attendants and all other hospital or clinic personnel.
Art. 84. Hours worked. Hours worked shall include (a) all time during which an employee is required to be on duty or to be at a prescribed workplace; and (b) all time during which an employee is suffered or permitted to work.
This has been a common practice, but a new bill aims to compress the work week from 6 days to 4 days. However, with the compressed work week, this will require employees to work more than 8 hours a day. There are mixed reactions regarding this proposition. To some, it is a good idea considering the fact that longer rest days allow you to spend some quality time with your family. To others, this is a disadvantage because compressed work week means longer hours at work.
House Bill 5068 is waiting for 2nd and 3rd readings. Once the bill passes it will be enacted into a law.
