THE Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a measure amending Presidential decree No. 442, which will allow companies to require workers to work beyond eight hours a day, subject to certain conditions.
With 17 affirmative votes and zero negative, the chamber passed Senate Bill No. 1571.
If enacted, Article 83 of the Code will allow workers to work beyond normal hours in cases “when the exigency of business operations or the national emergency requires the adoption of alternative work arrangements.”
The Department of Labor and Employment, as implementing agency, may determine conditions allowed for the alternative arrangement and ensure that work hours do not exceed 48 hours a week.
The bill, written by Senator Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, also authorizes DoLE to regulate the flexible-hours to protect workers.
Meanwhile, its counterpart measure, House Bill 8826, written by Makati City-1st district Rep. Manuel Monsour T. del Rosario III, remains pending at the committee level. — Charmaine A. Tadalan
