CASTELO REVIVES TEN-HOUR, FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo (Liberal Party, 2nd District of Quezon City) today revived the proposed ten-hour, four-day work week, or 10/4, in both public and private sectors to enable workers to cope with the rising cost of living and worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila, the nation’s hub of business activity. Castelo said the proposed work week, which did not prosper in the 15th Congress, has to be revived as an alternative to the planned two-day road ban for motor vehicles in Metro Manila, which, he said, would only paralyze productivity because of the lack of viable public transport system for additional commuters. Instead of extending to two days the one-day road ban every week for motor vehicles in Metro Manila, Castelo proposed the 10/4 work schedule to lessen their commuting days and ease the plight of the white and blue-collar workers and the middle class. Castelo has filed House Bill No. , or the “Four-Day Work Week Act of 2011,” which sets, ten hours of daily work, or 40 hours of work every week from Monday to Thursday, instead of until Friday. Public and private sector employees will put in two additional hours of work daily. Castelo said the 10/4 work week could mean weekly savings of at least 20 percent in work expenses, stressing it can serve as a “poverty alleviation” program by itself for cash-strapped workers. But Castelo cited some studies, which said that the 10/4 work week could heighten productivity because it makes workers more focused in their work. Besides, it gives them an extra day for recreation and other activity, he said. Castelo said he has re-filed the 10/4 workweek bill after observing that most workers are adversely affected by the worsening daily traffic, reducing their productivity and making stressed out. But he expressed belief that plain economics is a major factor for its relevance, stressing that workers could save under the proposed work week. If a worker in Metro Manila spends P200 a day in transport fare, food and snacks, and other expenses in going to work, or P1,000 every week, Castelo said the 10/4 work week will mean a savings of P200 per week. For workers in the provinces, who spend an average of P100 a day, the weekly savings can reach P100. Overall, the proposed 10/4 work week could mean weekly savings amounting to at least P20 billion for the over 20 million private sector workers and 1.5 million state employees, Castelo estimated. The 10/4 work formula seeks to address the economic difficulties caused by rising prices and stagnant wages, Castelo said, as he noted that the continuing increases in the prices of petroleum products have triggered a corresponding rise in the prices of goods and services. Castelo said the three-day extended weekend can make employees more revitalized and motivated, as they have more time to spend with their families and pursue other activity, including hobby and leisure. Also, the additional day-off can push workers to pursue other productive activity, including learning new skills to retool himself and hone his competitiveness in the labor market, Castelo said. In the end, the 10/4 work week can provide a positive impact on the worker’s morale and productivity in the workplace, Castelo said. For the employers, the 10/4 work formula can result in savings in maintenance cost and employees’ overtime pay, Castelo explained. Castelo said the 10/4 work week formula is already being enforced at the House of Representatives with what he has described as resounding positive effects and enormous savings on government. “Employees at the House of Representatives start at 8 am and end up at 7 pm for a total of 10 hours of work every day. Yet service and productivity is never compromised by the shorter work week and longer weekend,” Castelo said. 30
Posted on: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 11:20:19 +0000
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