Palace thumbs down proposed four-day workweek

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang is not keen on adopting a four-day workweek as proposed by a lawmaker supposedly to cut expenses for both employers and workers amid the global financial crisis.

Ricky Carandang, head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, said the proposal has some benefits but could also cause disruptions in the delivery of services by both the public and private sectors.

“That has been presented by different administrations at different times…. It might have some benefits but it might also tend to disrupt some services,” Carandang said at Tuesday’s regular news briefing in Malacañang.

“Our people want to see the services provided to them by the government or by the private sector five times a week,” he added.

“And at this point we’re not seriously considering a four-day work week but if there’s some compelling argument for it then we will look into it,” Carandang said.