Business Lukewarm To 4-Day Week

Working Schedule

MANILA, Philippines — Businessmen are lukewarm to the proposed four-day work week saying Congress should better focus on the passage of priority bills that have been identified to help push for solid economic growth in the country.

In a press conference, the Joint Foreign Chambers and Philippine business groups were unanimous in saying they have not really given much thought of the 4-day work week proposal and suggested this for further and thorough study.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo has proposed “Four-Day Work Week Act of 2011” that will require workers to work 10 hours a day from Monday to Thursday, from the current 8 hours a day, five days a week.

What really concerns them was for Congress not to lose sight of the 32 priority bills that have been identified by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

“There are very clear priority bills and we are hoping that Congress can focus on these rather than go on different directions,” said Peter Perfecto, executive director of the Makati Business Club.

“The business sector’s major concern is the impact on how businesses should be run. We want to see a liberal environment rather than the do’s and don’ts,” Perfecto added.

He even said he was not aware of any country in the top ranks of the Global Competitiveness Survey with a four-day work week policy. Australia is known for its four-day work week schedule.

Martin Crisostomo, representing the Business Process Association of the Philippines, said the BPO sector has a different business model and that the proposal should be studied further to determine its impact to this 24/7 industry.

Already, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECoP) has thumbed down the proposed four-day workweek, saying it will hurt productivity in the country which already has one of the most number of non-working holidays in the world.

ECOP president Ed Lacson said the proposal will not help the country’s overall competitiveness.

Meantime, the business groups have identified five priority bills they would like Congress to pass immediately. These are Rationalization of Fiscal Incentives, Anti-Trust, Data Privacy Law, Customs Modernization and Tariffs Act, Anti-Smuggling, Forest Management and Creative Industries.

These bills have been tackled in the previous Congresses but never passed. Now, most of these bills have been approved on third reading.

The MBC would also like the passage of the Information Bill and the Whistle Blowers Act. The group is also pushing for the passage of bills that are tied up to the country’s international commitment such as the amendments to Anti-Money Laundering Act, WIPO Copyright Treaty and Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act.

Other bills being pushed by the business community include the Direct Remittance to LGUs of their 40% share from the National Wealth Taxes, Creation of the Department of ICT.

Forbes said that Congress should also make it a priority for the passage of an environment protection bill as he cited the tragic accident brought about by the trashslide during the typhoon Mina.

While the business groups did not include the Reproductive Health Bill and the Lemon Law in their list of priority legislative measures, they were unanimous in supporting these two measures.
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By: Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
Source: Manila Bulletin, Sept. 6, 2011
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