In time with the observance of Labor Day tomorrow, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda filed a twin-bill in the Lower House proposing to institute an alternative work-hour arrangement for private and public sectors from the standard 40 hours down to 35, designed to promote “higher levels of productivity and the welfare of workers.”
Salceda said his proposals, House Bills 9183 and 9184, filed on April 22, for private and public workers respectively, aim to pave the way for keeping up with the global trend of shorter working hours brought about by technological advances where workers would be able to enjoy more abundant leisure time by 2030.
He noted that economists, the academe and researchers around the world were one in their assertion “that a shorter, more flexible working week actually increases productivity and strengthens the economy” and “part-time workers are physically and mentally healthier, and are thus more productive.”
The 35-hour working week was first adopted as part of a labor reform in France in 2000, under its Plural Left government, and was credited for expanding the economy and lowering unemployment.