TUCP conditionally supports 4-day work week scheme

The four-day work week is believed to ease traffic congestion in the metro

MANILA, Philippines - Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa (TUCP-Nagkaisa) on Monday expressed support to the plan of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) allowing government agencies to implement a four-day work week scheme.

The group, however, pointed out that there would be no diminution of salary and reduction of benefits and public sector workers’ are consulted first they should ever adopt it.

“There are pros and cons to the compressed work week scheme aimed at saving electricity, reducing traffic congestion and minimizing stress of workers. So consultations and social dialogue with public sector worker (are an) important factor before implementing the scheme to know the sentiments of the workers,” TUCP-Nagkaisa spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said.

“The four-day work week should not affect salary and benefits of workers. This is non-negotiable of course,” Tanjusay added.

He noted that health of workers working for 10 hours a day is one of the adverse effects of the scheme to government employees, compromising the quality of service.

Tanjusay said the new work scheme may also affect both their health and their productivity due to stress caused by going home late at night and waking up early.

On the other hand, the scheme may motivate workers to be more productive because of an extra quality day with family, friends or an activity away from work.

The scheme may also cut commuting expenses and allows people to do errands they are unable to do during regular work days, Tanjusay said.

He said the scheme can reduce energy consumption and help ease traffic congestion by minimizing the volume of working people. - By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com)

4-day work week opposed

A PROPOSAL to implement a four-day work week in government offices in Metro Manila was shot down Monday by a militant labor group, saying the scheme will only create problems for workers.

Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said the scheme, which increases the daily working hours from eight to 10, will affect employees' health and violate their rights.

It is also unfavorable to workers who are paid on a daily basis and are subject to a "no work, no pay" policy, the group said.

"Unlike their monthly counterparts, daily paid workers are paid on actual days rendered. So the possibility is that they would be paid based on the number of days actually worked and not by the number of man hours spent," said KMU chairperson Elmer Labor in a text message to Sun.Star.

When applied to private sector workers, some employers may take advantage of the opportunity to cut workers’ wages further, according to KMU.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said it will support the shorter work week provided employers will consult workers before implementation and there is no dimunition of salary and benefits.

"It has advantages and disadvantages and it cannot be implemented in some industries or sectors such as manufacturing," said TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay.

The four-day work week is seen by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) as a tool to ease heavy traffic along Metro Manila's roads, enhance productivity and promote work-life balance among employees by increasing the number of workers' rest days and time for their families.

"Instead of addressing the causes of heavy traffic, the Aquino government is passing the burden of the problem to workers and ordinary Filipinos. Instead of improving mass transport system to reduce the volume of private vehicles plying the streets, it is implementing a scheme that's bad for workers' health," Labog said.

It would be up to government agencies to heed the CSC's recommendation as policemen, firemen and hospital staff are deemed excluded from the scheme because of their heavy interaction with the public. (Sunnex)By Virgil B. Lopez SunStar

RTWPB 7 sets 2 hearings on Cola-wage integration

THE Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 7 will conduct two public hearings this month to get the sentiment of the labor sector on the proposal to integrate the P13 cost-of-living allowance (Cola) in the basic wage.

RTWPB 7 labor sector representative Jose Tomungha said that the hearings are set on Oct. 13 in Bohol and Oct. 14 in Cebu City.

Tomungha said that RTWPB 7 will deliberate the inputs from the participants and the result of the public hearings on Oct. 15 and 21.

Tomungha said that the labor coalitions in Cebu are also now conducting research on the amount of the wage increase that could be filed by the workers in May 2015.

He said May 2015 is just seven months away that’s why it is appropriate to start the research now.

Early this year, the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) filed a petition for a P90 across-the-board wage increase, while the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL) wanted an increase of P132 per day.

The regional wage board, however, only granted a P13 Cola for workers that dismayed Tomungha and other labor sector representative, lawyer Ernesto Carreon.

RTWPB 7 is co-chaired by the director of the Department of Labor and Employment 7 and the director of the Department of Trade and Industry.

The RTWPB 7 members who also voted for the Cola are the director of the National Economic and Development Authority 7 and two representatives of the management sector.

With the P13 Cola on top of the P327 basic wage, the total minimum compensation now of a minimum wage worker is P340.

The decision of RTWPB 7 was affirmed by the National Wage Commission and it took effect last March 21, 15 days after it was published in a newspaper of general circulation last March 6.

Tomungha said that unlike Cola, which can be removed from the payroll anytime, a basic pay is permanent under the labor law. - By Elias O. Baquero / SunStar

Power supply disclosure sought

A labor group on Wednesday challenged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and Department of Energy (DOE) to disclose their power supply data, saying that a lot of available power is being concealed amid allegations of an impending power shortage in 2015.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Nagkaisa said the ERC has not spoken about an impending power shortage in 2015, even as the DOE is all over the place announcing a 300 megawatt deficit that can climb to 800 megawatt.

“We stressed the importance of correct data in undertaking power policy. If DOE has incorrect data, then the wrong arguments are being advanced and that’s is why fale solutions which are very expensive such as gas turbines, power barges, and generator sets are now being prioritized,” the TUCP said in a statement.

TUCP-Nagkaisa said DOE’s proposal of contracting P12 billion of capacity—300 megawatt genset or power barge plus 300 megawatt reserve—would mean a 50-centavo per kilowatt hour increase to be borne by consumers nationwide for two years.

“We warned that an increase in the price of power is sure to create an inflationary domino effect. Power is not a “stand alone” issue,” the TUCP said.

“Take the matter of workers disposable incomes which are constantly being erode by high price of power. A 24-month period where power rates are jacked up by 50 centavos per kilowatt hour which does not yet factor in additional generation, transmission and distribution charges is sure to wreak havoc on the already meager salaries of workers. It will surely trigger an increase in the prices of basic goods and services, we will be left with no other response except to seek an increase in wages.” - By Vito Barcelo / Manila Standard